(ATR) When the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) came to Rio to secure a venue for their hospitality house for the 2016 Olympic Games, they had a vision: it would be ‘the place to be’ in Rio. It would be the place that everyone was talking about; that everyone would want to go to; that everyone would remember. They have succeeded.
Two years in the planning, Casa Italia is a statement. Perched out over the ocean, it is located in the historic Costa Brava Clube on Ponta do Marsico – a famous club designed by architect Ricardo Menescal in the 1960s and enjoyed by Cariocas for over 50 years.
CONI set themselves the ambitious goal of transforming the run-down club into an exclusive hub for the Italian Team in Rio whilst also promoting Italy with flair and authenticity. They wanted Italy to come to the Olympic Games at its best, enhancing the country’s reputation, not only in sport. The renovation, costing upwards of one million euros, will be left as a legacy to Rio after the Games.
After crossing the massive bridge with waves crashing against the dramatic rockfaces, the journey into Casa Italia commences. Restaurants and bars fill the enormous structure along with lounge space, indoor pools, a spa, sauna, gym, health bar and even a hairdresser and massage salon.
Another pool graces the stunning rooftop as well as purpose built gardens showcasing some of Brazil’s most beautiful environment.
Of course one of the most important things at Casa Italia is the food. After all, food is the heart of Italy. Guests are treated to cuisine courtesy of head chef Davide Oldani. So important is the food that he is not simply known as the head chef, but rather as the Italian Olympic Team’s ‘Sport & Food Ambassador.’
And what’s on the menu? Well it changes every day but there is one thing for sure at any time of day – pasta, and lots of it! Upwards of 3,000kg of pasta will be cooked at Casa Italia – that’s around 1,000 servings a day - roughly 800,000 delicious little pieces. You will not go hungry at Casa Italia.
Equally as important at Casa Italia is the art and design. Artists were invited to take part in the ‘Horizontal Project’, breaking down the hierarchies between sport, hospitality, art and design.
Stand-out works include the installation ‘Horizontal’ by Davide D'Elia that leads to the restaurant, with paintings sourced from markets half immersed in a thick blue paint; and the imposing sculpture ‘Prisms’ by Giuseppe Gallo, a collection of real and invented carnival masks made of bronze located in the roof garden.
Like the art, the fittings throughout the Casa are all unmistakably Italian with chairs, sofas, bars, lights and even wallpaper all created by leading Italian designers.
The venue is fitted out with a media room and multimedia experience featuring some of the most up to date technology available – allowing Italian broadcasters to use the space as a unique studio. As well as showcasing some of CONI’s sponsors such as Emporio Armani, Casa Italia is home to a small space promoting the Rome 2024 bid. Virtual reality goggles take the visitor on a tour of Rome as it would look as host of the 2024 Games. Only time will tell if they will have the chance to make Rome the ‘place to be’ in eight years time.
Written by Alice Wheelerin Rio de Janeiro
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