Casa Casuarina is beautiful in any light. Gianni Versace created many of these elements of this mansion and garden. Versace bought this mansion and restored it to its original beauty. He also bought the adjoining property and that allowed him to design with his building team the gazabo and the lap pool, as well as the tall mozaic wall with the cascading fountain. In addition he had the South Wing built for more guests suites for family and friends to stay as he loved to entertain. As most know, Versace was killed on the front steps of the mansion one morning on his way back from his daily walk down the street to pick up his paper. His memory is so apparent in the designs on all the interior walls, fixtures, the mosaic tile everywhere, and some sculptures. This was truly Versace's oasis of beauty.
His story in Miami really started when he arrived in Miami on the way to Cuba in 1992. He asked a cab driver to show him something “fancy and fun.” They drove past the Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive and Versace demanded they stop. He decided right there he'd buy the place, even though it wasn't for sale. He bought this structure for $2.95 million that was operating at that time as an apartment building. Versace invested an additional $32 million in renovations in which he added the south wing, the pool and garden and turned the 24 apartments into 10 large suites within the original mansion, and then added 2 very large suites in the South Wing.
Carol Martling was invited in to photograph May of 2003, for the owner who purchased the property, a few years after Versace's death. He had opened the property for significant private events My photographs are being seen for the first time in this portfolio by the public.
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The Glowing Gazebo is a Versace designed element that he had added to the property, along with the lap pool and the South Wing. This image is my favorite of the entire collection for everything it represents and it has the msot sensational mosiacs inside the circle. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This collection is very rare and this is the first time any of these images have been sold. These captured images were shot just a few years after Versace was killed on the steps of the mansion, as he returned from his daily walk to pick up his newspaper. These images are very distinct and rare as so few were invited into the property and allowed to capture such images. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
The walk down the mosaic layered steps is just the beginning of the beauty that Versace designed for Casa Casuarina when it was his home. I remmber exactly how I felt the first time I walked down this stairway to view the entire lap pool, gazebo on the left, and the West Wing on the right. I was amazed that this property had so much inside its private tall walls. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This is Casa Casuarina from outside the Mansion with a peak to the main entrance building. Very few people at the time I captures these image were asked to photograph. I was so honored to capture this elite final collection.
Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
Everywhere on the Casa Casuarina property are beautiful memories of what Versace designed into the property. There are the mosaics on the steps and patio. The lap pool with high wall with a fountain flowing into the lap pool of course Versace designed. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This daytime image of the Casa Casuarina is showing that the murals inside are still the highlight taking one's eye to the exterior and drawn in to the painting on the round wall. This was build by Versace when he purchased the adjoining property next door to the mansion. He took the mansion building back to the original use as when he purchased it had been turned into an apartment building. Versace sense of taste and decor, made it magnificent. Family members had their own quarters within the mantion, and the South Wing was built for additional guests as Versace loved to entertain. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
These pillows placed in the stone urn on the roof are the only small items left in the mansion after Versace's death as his family secured all the remaining furnishings of his for the family to keep safely. He was so loved by family and friends. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This is the daytime pool image seen over the carefully laid round mosiac tile patterns on the patio, as one views the pool. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
The glowing pool is flanked by palm trees magic in the glow of evening lit by the lamps washing along the mosaic pattern on the high wall. All of this is thanks to Versace as he bought the neighboring property to have this design opportunity. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This is a peek over the lap pool to the gazebo in late day showing the large urn on the left and the landscaping along the pool. The pools blue water is such a calm capture. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
This is a magic view exhibiting the three interior levels of the mansion, the center is open to the elements. It faces South Beach and the ocean. Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.
#74 'Miami Casa Casuarina South Wing'
#74 'Miami Casa Casuarina South Wing'
This captured image inside Casa Casuarina known as at this time, the Versace Mansion. The thoughts as one crossed the mosiac patterns across the mosiac curved steps, up to the mansion, to view the South Wing that Versace designed to have more suites for guests, would be the beauty of its glowing in the late day before dark.
Large Image Size: 21.75' x 28' image w/4” borders = 30" x 36" Small Image Size: 10" x 13" w/3" borders = 16" x 19" Printed on Fine Smooth Rag Paper.