Industry Insiders: Lionel Ohayon, Design’s Dark Magician

Lionel Ohayon's ICRAVE has designed and architected some of the coolest bleeding-edge restaurants, clubs, lounges, and hotels of recent years. From New York to Los Angeles, and Las Vegas to Miami, ICRAVE venues draw praise from nightlifers and aesthetes alike -- and Ohayon promises more to come.

Point of Origin: "I'm a French Moroccan Jew. I was made in Morocco, but born in Canada where I grew up and studied architecture at the University of Waterloo. After working and studying in Paris and Rome, I came to New York at the bequest of a client/friend who had recently gotten engaged to the daughter of a billionaire and needed help on a sprawling mansion. I never finished that project (I don't think it’s finished yet); it’s not destined for completion. But I did get a virus in my system called New York, and never left. New York is my junk."

Occupations: “I do architecture and design and own a design firm called ICRAVE. I do it in places I want to be, with people who have passion and are driven by dreams—not fear—and it’s done best with reckless abandon.”

Case History: “I was once a street vendor. I sold sunglasses and t-shirts. We were really just trying to pick up girls. I just remember always having big rolls of cash. That was a great company because I never took your work home with me. Well ... I’m talking about the vending part. After graduating, I started EYECRAVE in Toronto, and instantly found myself designing nightclubs and bars for friends back home. Most people thought that I owned an eyewear company, so I eventually changed the name to ICRAVE. In March, I opened ICRAVE LA.

Current Biz: “I started ICRAVE and O+D Builders with my partner in late 2001. The concept was to control the design process by being in charge of the construction. Our first project to open was Pangaea. Soon after that was a stream of Manhattan’s most successful lounges post 9-11 including Dorsia, B’Lo, Viscaya, Crobar. I feel we are hitting artistic milestones regularly. It’s what inspires me the most. I am a founding partner in The One Group here in New York, which owns STK, Tenjune, and One Little West 12th here in New York; and STK, One Sunset, and Coco De Ville in LA. We are opening STK Miami and Coco DeVille in early 2009 and manage all the food and beverage operations for the Gansevoort Hotel in South Beach. The One Group is opening STK in Las Vegas in late 2009 and a bunch of other projects I cannot yet reveal. I am also an owner of Kiss & Fly and Bagatelle in the Meatpacking District with several other partners and plan to expand them around the world.”

Where do you like to travel or relax? “I love Brazil; I am building myself a beach villa retreat in Bahia. For weekends out of New York, I have a property upstate between Woodstock and Hudson that I absolutely love breaking away to.”

What are you currently working on? “Design-wise we are working a lot in Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dubai, and India. Our work is mostly in the hospitality sector, but we’re pretty close to signing a deal to do a house in Beverly Hills, which is a completely new venture for us. We are also designing two cruise ships, which is pretty cool.”

What gives you the most pleasure or satisfaction in your daily life? “I learned a long time ago that the most important thing I’ll ever design is my life and career. I spend a lot of time creating the culture that is ICRAVE. Watching it grow and seeing the talented people who work with me interact in this creative environment is a trip. Being able to do what I love as a profession—and having the ability to make it fun and inspiring—is tremendously rewarding.”

Who are your friends, neighbors, partners, enemies? Famous, infamous, or obscure? Who have you collaborated with? Who do you respect and admire? “All the people you’ve listed know who they are and would hopefully appreciate not being listed, I would think.”

What are your plans for the future? “ICRAVE; Europe, India, Dubai ... designing in new media, definitely furniture and product, maybe film. The One Group: a lot of new projects between now and 2012. New venture: I am working on developing a chain of very sexy and exclusive destination properties around the world.”

What will you do next? “Who knows ... chill a bit, I hope.”

Where do you want to be this time next year? “On the deck of a sailboat.”

What are you doing tonight? “Flying from London to New York.”

Prime Movers interviews A-listers from the business and leisure realm of nightlife, restaurants, hotels, and more.