Casino Royale Ball – Dior & Venetian Heritage

For one evening the building returned to its original glamorous calling, transformed into a setting inspired by the elegance and atmosphere of the great casinos of the 1930s.

Built in 1938 to a design by Eugenio Miozzi, the Palazzo del Casinò is one of the finest examples of Rationalist architecture on the Lido. Behind its austere travertine-clad façade lie monumental interiors featuring marble, mosaics, grand staircases and glass from the historic furnaces of Murano. The contrast between the rigour of the exterior and the richness of the interiors was one of the central elements of the event’s staging.

For the Casino Royale Ball, the historic rooms on the upper floor, long out of use, were also reopened and refitted. Dior recreated the atmosphere of the original casino with gaming tables, velvets, card-inspired decorative details and arrangements that included Murano glass, temporarily restoring the Palazzo to its original role as a venue for entertainment and international hospitality.

The event also had a strong cultural purpose. Venetian Heritage’s Gala Weekend raised a total of around €1.8 million, contributing to the wider restoration and reinstallation of the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti at the Ca’ d’Oro, a project worth around €10 million in total.