Miami - Casa Casuarina

Arguably, the most exclusive “Private Member’s Club” in the world, the former home of Gianni Versace is opulence on a level one rarely witnesses in the Western World.

Casa Casuarina was built in 1930 by philanthropist, architect and Standard Oil heir, Alden Freeman.  His inspiration was the “Alcazar de Colon” (1501), the home of the son of Christopher Columbus and the oldest existing house in the Western Hemisphere.

Freeman died in 1937 and the house was bought by Jacques Amsterdam who renamed it “The Amsterdam Palace.”  Despite 55 years of neglect, whilst essentially a refuge to creative thinkers and trendsetters, the house had been so well built that it remained, fundamentally, in good condition.

In 1992 Casa Casuarina was purchased by Gianni Versace who immediately began a meticulous restoration of the interior, as well as creating a south wing and swimming pool.  Versace redesigned the house in the style of a classical Roman Villa.

As we were shown around the Casa, this camel and companion were awestruck by the staggering amount Versace achieved in the mere 5 years he owned the house, before he was murdered on its steps in July 1997.  The swimming pool floor consists of over one million hand laid mosaic tiles, the gold leaf glistening under water in the Miami sun.

Each of the 10 guest suites is individually themed.  Mosaics, fine wall hanging fabrics, exceptional art and busts are liberally positioned around Casa Casuarina.

On the roof of the house, overlooking South Beach, is the private terrace where Versace would breakfast, when not dining at the nearby News Café.  Beside the terrace is the observatory.  Incredibly, if you stand in the centre of the observatory and talk, your voice vibrates in your head.  It is an amazing sensation, caused by the perfect shape of the observatory dome.

One very odd feature which we failed to understand was the “Astroturf” artificial grass, covering the terrace by the pool.  It looked awful and was the one tragic flaw in Casa Casuarina’s perfection.

The Casa was bought in 2001 by Peter Loftin, a North Carolina based telecommunications millionaire, for a “knock down” price.  In what must be the real estate deal of all time, Loftin negotiated Donatella Versace down from the original asking price of $25m for the house alone to $19m for the house AND all the art!  The bronze statue just inside gate is now allegedly valued at around $19m.

Casa Casuarina was re-opened in October 2004 as a “by invitation only” members club.  They don’t publicise how much it costs to join but the figure is said to be in the region of $40,000 - $50,000 plus an annual membership fee.

The cuisine is excellent but not expensive.  As a benchmark, Perrier Jouet champagne is $90 and Bollinger $180.  Probably the best lunchtime burger ever, will set you back $22, which is very good value when compared with other prices on South Beach.  Fine strands of cucumber, binding lettuce leaves into a bouquet, layered with caviar topped foie gras and lobster is a fabulous, more delicate dish on the menu.  Lunchtime dining is on the terrace opposite the swimming pool (and astroturf).  Dinner is served in the formal dining room.

Suites start at $1200 per night, rising to $2000, $2500 and up to $5000.

The Casa has now introduced guided tours at $65 per person, although the upper floors remain for guests and members only.

Visiting Casa Casuarina is a one off experience.  If you can….do it!

Casa Casuarina
1116 Ocean Drive
Miami

+1 305 672 6604