il Casino Azzurro Jane Bae
		Edouard Manet exhibited "Luncheon on the Grass" with other impressionist paintings at the Salon des Refuses in 1863. This painting earned a great amount of attention. A nude in a classical setting was considered acceptable; however a nude in such an open environment became very controversial. "Luncheon on the Grass" caused a public scandal and was noted to be an extremely radical painting of that time. Il Casino Azzurro was inspired by this painting. Its architecture and interior speaks of a totally different language than a traditional casino, which plays with the intention of tricking the players by using colorful design motifs, dense space planning, and an overwhelming amount of things to see, hear and even smell. On the contrary, il Casino Azzurro defies these traditional ideas and speaks of a pure and crystal-like environment. Created exclusively for elite members only, this casino allows entry by water, land, and by helicopters. A continuous blue ramp wraps around the inside perimeter of the translucent glass structure connecting all the levels, serving as a contemplation walkway and also as a sculptural accent. Within the structure which is essentially a glass box, hangs another box which houses the three casino levels. Suspended within the upper portion of the glass building, this leather clad structure provides privacy for the casino. The floors of the casinos are prismatic glass which becomes the ceiling for the atrium below. Embellished with pristine materials, shimmering surfaces and a breathtaking waterfront vista, il Casino Azzurro also serves as a beacon on the water and an exclusive place for members to socialize and game in. Much like the irony in Manet's painting, il Casino Azzurro defies the norm when it comes to casino design, and has its own poetic language which it expresses in its architecture and interior design.
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Project Completed   Author Contact Il Casino Azzurro May 2004 Parsons Jane Bae JaneBae1@yahoo.com
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