Chad Oppenheim is the creative force behind Oppenheim Architecture, a Miami-based firm renowned for its global portfolio of projects. Since its inception in 1999, the firm has expanded to include 40 employees and established additional offices in New York City and Switzerland.
Oppenheim, a 44-year-old Miami Beach resident originally from New Jersey, specializes in architecture inspired by nature. His work encompasses interior design and planning for hotel-condo towers, private residences, and office buildings.
The firm's latest venture, a WeWork space in Soho, opened in July and signifies a strategic move to engage in more projects within New York City. When in New York, Oppenheim meets with prominent developers and explores potential development sites in the Hudson Yards area.
Oppenheim Architecture has presented designs for Silverstein Properties' development project at 514 11th Avenue, as well as Juan Figueroa's long-awaited Williamsburg hotel situated on the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank site at 175 Broadway.
A Day in the Life
Here’s a glimpse into a typical day for Chad Oppenheim:
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- Morning Routine: The day begins with the alarm at his Miami home. Oppenheim attempts to meditate for five to ten minutes to avoid getting overwhelmed by immediate demands.
- Family Time: He enjoys paddleboarding with his son, searching for manatees and dolphins in the bay. Breakfast follows with his wife and daughter, featuring homemade cereals, yogurts, butters, and cheeses prepared by his wife, who is compiling a cookbook titled “Savor the Mountains.”
- Commute and Office: Oppenheim drives his wife’s Tesla to the office and starts by connecting with the Switzerland office, which oversees projects in the Middle East and Europe, including high-end terrace villas on a lake in the Italian part of Switzerland.
- New York Office: He then checks in with the New York team, led by Juan Lopez, a former top employee. They discuss projects in New York City and Asbury Park, N.J., where they are assisting iStar Residential in revitalizing the area with new condos, and studies for Silverstein on various projects.
- Global Projects: The New York office is a design studio working on projects worldwide, such as a Six Senses resort in Utah owned by Pegasus Capital. Both the New York and Switzerland teams are involved in the expansion of the SushiSamba brand, with a new restaurant-nightclub in Dubai.
- Meetings and Site Visits: Oppenheim tries to have lunch meetings at his home or at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. He attends events like an Urban Land Institute panel to discuss creating communities and residential projects in Latin America.
- Construction and Design: He reviews construction details, meets with people to discuss new projects like an office condo building in Aventura, and visits construction sites. Recently, he attended the groundbreaking of the first tower of an eight-tower project in Sunrise, Fla., where his firm handled the master plan and architecture.
- Residential Projects: Oppenheim inspects a 13,000-square-foot Bal Harbor spec house for developer Oren Alexander. His team also discusses the design of other private residences. He completed director Michael Bay’s house in Los Angeles after four years, having previously worked with Bay in 2007 to modify a house initially bought by Hulk Hogan.
- Design Oversight: Oppenheim makes rounds to everyone’s desks, acting as the "design incubator" to oversee design at every level.
- Evening: He attempts to have dinner with his family, enjoying a celebration of seasonal, local cuisine and homemade chocolate for dessert. He reads to his children, including “Roberto: The Insect Architect,” a favorite about a termite architect.
- Late Night: Some nights, he participates in a WebEx meeting about a multi-tower project in Australia developed by the Dalian Wanda Group, reviewing details with the local architect.
A Talk with Chad Oppenheim | ARCNODE
Architectural Philosophy
Chad Oppenheim’s architectural philosophy focuses on seamlessly blending modernity with the cultural essence of a place. He strives to evoke a feeling of harmony with nature in his designs, believing that buildings and environments should be symbiotic.
To ensure that modernity does not overshadow the spirit of a place, Oppenheim approaches designs like an archaeologist, studying the location, environment, and terrain to craft designs that enhance and celebrate their surroundings.
Incorporating Regional Context
Oppenheim believes that buildings and environments should be symbiotic to create a feeling of belonging that blends projects into their surroundings. This approach emphasizes preserving the earth by enhancing and celebrating the spaces they are in.
Material Choices
Whenever possible, Oppenheim utilizes local materials to weave them into the design palette. He aims to integrate the building and the land, emphasizing that they are two parts of a whole. Projects like Ayla Golf Clubhouse and Desert Rock exemplify this approach, incorporating local materials and techniques into the designs.
Desert Rock: A Case Study
The Desert Rock project in Saudi Arabia is a prime example of Oppenheim’s “spirit of place” principle. Currently under construction, this project aims to demonstrate the relationship between nature and the built environment, drawing inspiration from the Nabataean people's historical methods of building within the rocks of the region.
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Sustainability
Sustainability and preservation are central to Oppenheim’s philosophy. His goal is to design with the land, maintaining the “spirit of place.” Sustainability is a key factor, reflecting consumers’ values in design and architecture.
The Desert Rock project exemplifies this commitment, aiming for the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification level. The design incorporates elements already existing on the site to enhance the environment's authentic look and feel. The project reduces energy consumption through water retention and distribution systems, the use of local stone, and the reuse of excavated materials.
Examples of Projects
- Ayla Golf Academy & Club House: Located in Aqaba, Jordan, this project draws inspiration from the surrounding mountain landscape and the 18-hole championship golf course.
- Escondido: This renovated project in Malibu, California, transforms a dated structure into a timeless coastal home.
- House in a Jungle: A family home in Caracas, Venezuela, designed to blend with the wildness of its surroundings.
More About Chad Oppenheim
Chad Oppenheim’s work has been lauded for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary through a passion for and sensitivity towards both humanity and nature. He creates monumental yet understated architecture that highlights a site’s inherent power.
A graduate of Cornell University and a Fellow of the AIA, Oppenheim has lectured extensively and taught at institutions such as Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
In 1999, he established Oppenheim Architecture, which has garnered international acclaim for its diverse projects, ranging from large-scale urban architecture and hotels to private residences and interiors. The firm has received over 80 industry awards, including the AIA’s Silver Medal and a 2018 National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
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Personal Interests
Beyond architecture, Chad Oppenheim has a variety of personal interests that enrich his life and inspire his work:
- Backcountry Skiing: Chad and his wife, Ilona, enjoy backcountry skiing to disconnect from civilization and recharge in nature. They collaborated with Pete Wagner to create the WAGNER X CHIL “NAKED” TOUR ski, designed for versatile conditions.
- Mountain Biking: Mountain biking has been a long-time passion for Oppenheim and his family. They enjoy the technical trails in Miami and the extensive network of trails in Colorado. Oppenheim favors the Levo SL E-Mountain Bike.
- Family Pet: Initially allergic to dogs as a child, Oppenheim eventually embraced the idea of a family pet during the pandemic. They adopted a mini goldendoodle named Gigi (or Jiji), who has become an integral part of their family.
- Canyoning: Oppenheim enjoys canyoning, which involves walking, climbing, jumping, rappelling, and swimming in beautiful natural environments. He celebrated his daughter's birthday with a canyoning trip in Moab, Utah.
- Japanese Influence: Living and working in Japan in 1994 greatly influenced Oppenheim's work. He was drawn to Japanese architecture, gardens, culture, and rituals, particularly the Shinto religion's reverence for nature.
Villa Allegra
The Miami residence that Chad Oppenheim originally designed and built for himself and his wife, Ilona, known as Villa Allegra, is a testament to his design principles. Completed in 2003, the home embraces a pared-back aesthetic and includes eco-friendly features such as cross-ventilation and solar panels.
The property features lush, native vegetation conceptualized by landscape architect Raymond Jungles, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a swimming pool, and two boat docks.
Key highlights include a library/media room with a secret bookcase door, a 25-foot-tall outdoor shower, and a primary suite with a private travertine terrace and soaking tub.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Sunset Islands, Miami Beach |
| Architect | Chad Oppenheim |
| Completion Year | 2003 |
| Eco-Friendly Features | Cross-ventilation, solar panels |
| Bedrooms | 6 |
| Bathrooms | 7 |
| Outdoor Features | Swimming pool, two boat docks, lush garden |
| Notable Highlights | Library with secret door, 25-foot outdoor shower, travertine terrace |
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