The Versace world is a glitzy, sumptuous one. One of those worlds that tells the story of fashion’s Golden age. Gianna Versace had a profound fascination for classical art and Roman architecture. So, when in 1992 he found this building inspired by the Alcazar de Colon 1, built in 1930 by architect Alden Freeman, the stylist didn’t waste any time in shelling out close to 33 million dollars to fix it up with the same uncompromising Baroque taste that defined his style. Decorated entirely by the couturier, it is like the vestige of a glamour that has faded, or been distorted at best. A glamour that Gianni Versace brought with him from his native Calabria.
Located at 1116 Ocean Drive, not far from Miami Beach, the property’s Mediterranean architecture is just as jarring as its triumphant extravagance is surprising. Still, even the 23,465 square feet, 11 rooms, Roman gardens, and warm colors can’t rival the creative power that Gianni Versace had to deploy to dream up the 1,937 square foot pool laden with gold. Fully tiled, it is 177 feet long, garnished with 24 carat gold. The current owner of the Casa Casuarina quickly made it into a private club, a boutique, and a luxury hotel. But now the entrepreneur is having to part ways with it due to bankruptcy. Entrusted to the Fischer Auction Company, its president assures that the sale “won’t last more than thirty minutes”.
The Casa Casuarina still preserves a little something from Gianni Versace. Felled by a serial killer’s bullets before these very doors, its walls could one day whisper stories of his lavish soirées where Cher, Elton John, Madonna, and the entire Versace revived South Beach in the 90s.
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