GIANNI VERSACE REMEMBERING FASHION LEGEND - Suzanne Wintrob
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REMEMBERING FASHION LEGEND ‘The whole place
GIANNI VERSACE
AS A TV SERIES LOOKS BACK ON HIS LAST DAYS, WE INVITE
is a celebration of
Gianni’s vision’
YOU INSIDE THE MIAMI MANSION HE CALLED HOME
Italian fashion designer
Gianni Versace was
initially drawn to the
COURTESY THE VILLA CASA CASUARINA (LEFT)
property by the
Kneeling Aphrodite
statue (c. 1930) by
Yugoslavian sculptor
JEFF DALY/FX (BOTTOM RIGHT)
Vuk Vuchinich. FX’s The
Assassination of Gianni
Versace: American
Crime Story, starring
doppelgänger Edgar
Ramírez (right), was
filmed on location.
6 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 7
Drake, Justin Bieber
and the Kardashian
sisters have sat poolside
in recent years
ECasuarina
very day, hundreds of tourists make their
way to the front steps of the Villa Casa
in Miami’s prestigious art deco
neighbourhood of South Beach. Some sim
ply stop to admire the exquisite Mediterran
ean-inspired architecture and snap photos
for posterity. But for many, it’s a tranquil
place to pay homage to Gianni Versace, the
beloved Italian fashion designer whose life
ended on those very steps of the treasured
mansion he called home.
On July 15, 1997, 50-year-old Gianni was
shot by a serial killer as he was returning
from his morning walk. He died a short
time later in hospital, plunging his family,
his famous friends and the entire fashion
world into mourning. More than 2,000
people attended his funeral at a cathedral
in Milan, Italy, with fashion A-listers like
Vogue editor Anna Wintour, designers Gior
gio Armani and Valentino and model Nao
mi Campbell sombre in black. Sir Elton
John sobbed openly in the front row
Gianni oversees renovations from a balcony
overooking the courtyard in 1993. The crown
jewel of the private oasis is the Mosaic Gar-
den’s stunning 16.5-metre swimming pool
lined with more than one million mosaic tiles,
thousands of which are 24-karat gold. It
showcases the property’s largest image of
Versace’s iconic Medusa logo.
MARICE COHN BAND (BOTTOM LEFT)
8 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 9
The stars of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story – including Edgar Ramírez,
Penélope Cruz, Darren Criss and Ricky Martin – filmed key scenes by the pool area (above and below),
as well as in the stunning courtyard (right), which features four ‘pillars of democracy’ representing the
four continents and characters whom original owner Alden Freeman felt influenced the world: Europe
(Columbus), Asia (Confucius), Africa (Frederick Douglass) and America (Pocahontas).
‘The courtyard
next to Diana, Princess of Wales (and swimming pool lined with thousands of
then, heartbreakingly, sang at her fu 24-karat gold tiles. In 2014, sisters Kim
neral just a few weeks later). and Kourtney Kardashian made bal
is really very Twenty years on, Gianni’s legacy con
tinues to draw the curious to what’s now
cony appearances and bikini-clad half-
sister Kylie Jenner posted photos of
dramatic,
a luxurious 2,100-square-metre, 10-bed herself at the pool.
room Italian palazzo-style boutique ho Lately, the fascination has been help
tel – and the third most photographed ed along by the new TV series The Assas
especially when home in the United States, after Grace
land and the White House. In 2015, Jus
sination of Gianni Versace: American Crime
Story, chronicling the assassination and
you come in tin Bieber paid US$50,000 to rent out
the entire place for two nights, sleeping
in a room normally reserved for Gian
its aftermath and starring Edgar Ramír
ez, Penélope Cruz, Darren Criss and
Ricky Martin. Critical scenes for the
there at night’ ni’s sister Donatella, and snapping
photos by the breathtaking 16.5-metre
show, including the murder itself, were
filmed at the villa in mid-2016 and
10 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 11
‘It’s not a museum, not a
place that does tours. It’s an
operating boutique hotel’
Now a luxury hotel, the decor remains true to its famous owner. The restaurant (above, aptly
named Gianni’s), the Onyx Bar (below, formerly Gianni’s kitchen) and evening rotunda (right) there was no denying that the designer’s
showcase the designer’s favourite shapes: triangles to symbolize infinity, squares for the four spirit could be felt throughout the property.
elements and circles to represent the circle of life. “The whole place is a celebration of his vi
sion,” explains general manager Chauncey
Copeland, admitting that he never gets tired
of talking about the Versace legacy, even
though it’s no longer owned by the famous
family. “We also celebrate the whole history
of the property even before he got it ... But
obviously the stamp that’s on it now is Ver
sace’s and it’s something that we maintain.”
If these walls could talk, Villa Casa Casuar
ina would have fascinating stories to tell. The
original property dates back to 1930, when
Standard Oil Trust heir Alden Freeman vis
ited Alcázar de Colón in the Dominican Re
public, one of the oldest residences in the
Western hemisphere. Alden was so intrigued
by the 16th-century Spanish palace, built by
Christopher Columbus’s son, that he decided
to recreate it in Miami Beach. He went full
out, building a small replica of the Tower of
Homage where Christopher was reportedly
imprisoned by King Ferdinand in 1503, com
plete with an observatory dome, mission bell
and a stunning courtyard featuring a bronze
statue called Kneeling Aphrodite; the walls
12 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 13
If the walls could talk, no doubt they would have
are lined with more than 130
portrait medallions of Cleopatra,
Gandhi, John D. Rockefeller and
fascinating stories to tell about the villa’s famous guests others who intrigued him.
“The courtyard is really very
dramatic, especially when you
come in there at night,” says The original mansion, built in 1930, had 24 rooms but Gianni transformed it into 10 grand suites in the
Chauncey. “And then you go vested an additional US$32 mil original house and two in the new south wing. Gianni hired local artists to paint magnificent frescos on
from the courtyard into the lion to renovate the property to the ceilings, such as the one in Donatella’s Venus Room (above). Other overnight guests have included
mosaic pool area, which is just reflect his tastes. When he was Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sir Elton John. Today, anyone can stay at US $900 to $1,600 per night.
spectacular. It’s one of the most growing up in Calabria, Italy,
spectacular places in the world, his parents adorned their front
especially when it’s lit at night. and back doors with Medusa
It’s really one of a kind.” heads to ward off evil spirits, so
When Alden died in 1937, Gianni infused the theme
Jacques Amsterdam snapped it throughout the mansion (it’s
up for US$100,000. He ran it as also the Versace logo). He
a hotel, moving Kneeling Aphro brought in marble and stone
dite to the front terrace for pass from Italy, hired local artists to
ersby to enjoy. paint magnificent frescos on
It was the statue that first the ceilings and adorned the
caught the attention of Gianni walls with tiny mosaic tiles
– and, sadly, was one of the last everywhere he could. The 24
things he ever saw. Strolling apartments were transformed
Family meant down Miami’s popular Ocean into 10 beautifully decorated
everything to Gianni Drive in 1992, he was wowed by suites, with two more situated
so he made sure that the statue and the unique Span in a new south wing. Gianni
each of his siblings ish architecture of the property also replaced the fountain and
and their children and had to have it. Soon after, added a copper dome to the
had their own space. he bought the original house observatory, one of his favour
His older brother for US$2.95 million, as well as ite places to entertain guests.
Santo’s Signature the art deco Revere Hotel next If that wasn’t enough, the de
suite (above, with door for US$3.7 million. signer outdid himself with the
the bathroom here) Obsessed with Greek and swimming pool, inspired by his
looked onto the Roman mythology, Gianni in Marine Vanitas collection
Atlantic Ocean (right).
14 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 15
and comprising more than one million modifications to the property because
mosaic tiles, thousands of which are we’ve been pretty faithful to how Gianni
‘The more 24-karat gold. “The more you look, the
more you see because Gianni Versace
Versace had it at that time,” says
Chauncey of the on-location filming of
you look, the put so many little details throughout the
property,” says Chauncey.
It took three years for Gianni to
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: Am
erican Crime Story. “There were just some
period pieces that they added inside
more you complete the renovation. However, he
only had two more years to enjoy the
from that era. Other than that, the prop
erty is pretty much the same as when
see because fruits of his labour before his tragic
death. Donatella sold the property for
Gianni Versace had it.”
Though hotel staff weren’t allowed
Gianni Versace
US$19 million in 2000 and it has on-set during the six weeks that the Villa
changed hands several times since then. Casa Casuarina was closed during film
Today, it’s owned by a Florida business ing, Chauncey did manage to catch a
put so many connected to the Jordache jeans family,
who won it at auction for US$41.5 mil
glimpse of the death scene and was par
ticularly impressed with how real and
little details
lion – a tad more than business mogul intense it felt.
Donald Trump was willing to spend at “We have had TV spots and movies
the time. It continues to run as a hotel filmed there before but we’ve never real
throughout and party venue, with a full-time artist
employed to ensure it stays true to
ly been in the midst of a production like
that,” he recalls. “It was interesting see
the property’
Gianni’s vision. The restaurant, aptly ing how actors work themselves up so
DOMINO ARTS (2)
called Gianni’s, offers up nouveau Ital that it comes across onscreen. There was
ian Mediterranean cuisine in his honour. a big scene where Ricky Martin [who Gianni left much of his fortune to Donatella’s children, Allegra (who stayed in the Aviary suite, top left) and Daniel
“They really didn’t have to do a lot of plays Gianni’s boyfriend, Antonio (who used the Azure suite, top right). Left: Gianni’s ornate double-head shower reflecting his love of Greek and
Roman influence.
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Gianni’s room shared a hallway with the Em
pire room (above), which is where his boy-
friend, Antonio D’Amico, resided. Its theme
dates back to the Ottomon Empire with murals
‘The property is pretty
of sultans and soothing honey and jewel-tone
colours. Below: The foliage-framed pool at much the same as when
Gianni Versace had it’
night. It’s said that the villa’s moniker comes
from the botanical name for the Australian
Pine – the only tree remaining on the lot after
a 1926 hurricane hit south Florida.
Gianni was not only king of fashion but also king of his castle. His beautiful Baroque-inspired bedroom,
called the Villa suite, features a round foyer, a double king-sized bed and two balconies. He could often D’Amico] discovers Gianni on
be seen on the balcony overlooking Miami Beach’s popular Ocean Avenue, waving to friends and fans. the front steps after the shoot
Below: The Medallion suite that looks onto the garden and pool. ing. It’s a highly emotional
scene. I was able to see him
working himself up into that
pitch and then running out
and doing the scene. That one,
for me, really stands out.”
Since the TV show’s debut in
January, Chauncey has noticed
more buzz than usual outside
of the hotel’s front gate. And as
head of the house, that’s per
fectly fine with him.
“We have thousands of people
per week [looking in] on a regu
lar basis, but with [the TV show]
we have even more exposure,”
he says. “It did make it clear that
people can make reservations
for the hotel and stay here and
also make reservations for the
restaurant and enjoy a world-
class gourmet meal. The mes
sage finally did get out to many
more people that it’s not a mu
seum, it’s not a place that does
tours. It’s an operating boutique
hotel and restaurant.”
REPORT: SUZANNE WINTROB
PHOTOS: KEN HAYDEN AND
MAX WANGER
18 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 19
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