Félix Benítez

Félix Benítez Rexach (March 27, 1886 – November 2, 1975) was the Puerto Rican engineer who designed the Normandie Hotel, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Born in Vieques, Benítez met Lucienne Dhotelle, known as La Môme Moineau [ [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_mome_Moineau French Wikipedia article on La Môme Moineau] ] while onboard the French ocean liner SS Normandie. The couple fell in love and soon married.

Benítez had fond memories of the liner and decided to surprise his wife with the construction of a yacht as a replica of the majestic ship. Moineau wasn't satisfied and Benítez decided then to construct a hotel with the form of a great transatlantic vessel. Designed by architect Raúl Reichard (1908-1996), the hotel began construction in 1938. He named the hotel "Normandie" in honor of the French liner and presented it as a gift to his beloved wife and to the people of Puerto Rico. The hotel opened on October 10, 1942 [ [http://www.puertadetierra.com/edificios/normandie/hotel_normandie.htm Puerta de Tierra: Hotel Normandie] ] at an estimated cost of more than US$2,000,000. Many consider it one of the foremost examples of Art Deco architecture in the world.

References

* "LA MÔME MOINEAU" by Michel Ferracci-Porri 380 pages, published in November 2006 by [http://editions-normant.com Editions Normant] (ISBN:9782915685282) is the first biography of Félix and Moineau Benitez.

External links

* [http://www.normandiepr.com/ Official Normandie Hotel website]