La Dolce Vita with The Cipriani family heads to Miami Beach

The Cipriani family has been providing the highest level of service across the globe for almst a century. Now, thanks to Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences, Miami Beach can have a taste of the good life

By Sonia Tita Puopolo | Photography by NAVID

[highlight_text] The humble Ugo Colombo never imagined he would become one of the city’s most important developers, if not the most important. [/highlight_text]

It was the ideal South Florida day: Sunny skies with a slight breeze keeping the air warm, yet fresh. There was no better way to spend the afternoon than with Ugo Colombo and Giuseppe Cipriani at the site of their latest venture: Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences at 3200 Collins Avenue. The coveted oceanfront land in Miami Beach is rare commodity; the limited supply of beachfront has attracted more than its fair share of the world’s top developers. Of these, this team’s new project is trumping all others, and bringing old world glamour back to the beach.

The Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences is returning Miami Beach to her glory days, the days of La Dolce Vita, the sweet life. The project is sure to remind us of the glamour years of Hollywood, as it evokes the elegance, style, and sophistication of Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. The team behind this exclusive resort and club residences is a powerful one. They have each already made their mark, and have name recognition worldwide.

From Venice to Miami, from Tokyo to New York, from London to Hong Kong, from Paris to Dubai, the name Cipriani is synonymous with service, style, and success. In Miami, the name Ugo Colombo is synonymous with luxury construction and completion. In the United States, the Patrinely Group is synonymous with power and product, as they are a national leader in the development of luxury residential and corporate office buildings, with close to $3 billion in projects completed throughout the nation. The combination of the three successful entities in the new iconic Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences will lead to a more sophisticated and service oriented style of living that Miami Beach has been lacking since its days as a global haute spot, days that are once again coming into light.

Ugo Colombo, born and raised in Italy, came to Miami to complete his studies. He is now president and CEO of the multi-million dollar CMC Group, which he founded in 1992. The humble Ugo Colombo never imagined he would become one of the city’s most important developers, if not the most important. With his luxury buildings like the Santa Maria, Bristol Tower, the Grovenor House Condominiums, and the new EPIC Residences and Hotel defining the cityscape, Ugo’s impressive personal resume is literally written on Miami’s skyline. CMC Group, along with Jeffrey Soffer, also developed the beautiful Porto Vita in Aventura, Florida. Ugo Colombo prefers things to be understated and elegant. This visionary is a true entrepreneur! He is low key, and loves only what is most understated, yet at the same time of the highest quality. During the 90’s, Ugo, despite being owner of The Collection (a seven-franchise luxury automotive dealership selling Ferraris, Maseratis, Porches, and more) and traveling around the world racing his beloved and favorite Ferraris, drove around Miami in a discreet Volvo, not calling any attention to himself.

Ugo is a practical man. He owns Glasswall, LLC, a Miami-based glass and window manufacturing business that specializes in impact-resistance window systems for residential and commercial high-rise projects. As we talk about this new project, the Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences, he speaks with confidence and grace, yet also with a sense of humility. He asserts, “The project has already received great feedback. This property is one of the last remaining oceanfront properties available to build and restore.” In fact, the location is interesting. The site for the Cipriani Ocean Resort is where the famed Saxony stands -it was declared one of twelve Kosher Spots in the Miami Beach area, and is a historical landmark. Therefore the integrity of the structure and the Art Deco style will be maintained in the restoration and, in fact, celebrated.