Product Description

This is a book that for the first time opens the doors to the public of the Marina at the luxurious gated community and Resort Casa de Campo in the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. It is one of a king peace of art printed and bounded in Italy, with more than 300 breathtaking full color photographs and original drawing throughout. The book is a first class guided tour of the Marina at Casa de Campo in the hands of its creator, the architect Gianfranco Fini. Stunning aerial views, with never before seeing original drawings that will allow you enter into the mind of the architect to see the way of living that he was planning to create and vivid pictures of it actual beauty and style. The full size pictures throughout the book portrays a whole range of Caribbean style an elegant properties from inside out, from chic waterfront apartments and townhouses of less than 2,000 sqf. to magnificent Villas and Mansions above the 16,000 sqf. The foreword by Eduardo Martinez Lima (Central Romana Corporation CEO) will tell you the story of how two entrepreneurs convince them from an architectural and business point to build the Marina. Carmen Ortega (Arquitexto Magazine Editor) will introduce you to the Dominican Republic and Casa de Campo, while Carlo Montanaro (Editor of Dove, Dove Case and Style) will show you the way of living in the all year round summer at the Restaurants, Yacht Club, Art Galleries and, seaside houses of this luxurious destination.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #667183 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-30
• Released on: 2006-11-15
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

Review
Living in Summer All Year Round! ....The sociologists, from Ensensberger to De Masi, tell us that the next generation, in the economically more advanced part of the world, will have an amount of leisure time at its disposal that we would now find inconceivable: people will only work for one third of the year and all the rest will be holiday. ...This book gives us a glimpse of a world that is already here, but looks so far away from our everyday lives. Here there is none of the cheap concrete jungle, none of the vulgar opulence and none of the exaggeration that is too present elsewhere... What the architect Gianfranco Fini has devised is a sort of ideal contemporary city. Each of these places, each of these houses, reminds me of the environmental creations of such artist as James Turrel… As I look at these photographs, I imagine that pure distilled spirit, the stuff that dreams are made of, that readers will enjoy. Victor Hugo wrote in Les Misérables that a man can be judged far more certainly by what he dreams than by what he thinks . But this book offers us another chance: the Dominican Republic, as narrated by Gardin, may also be the promise of a feasible world. --Carlo Montanaro: Editor of the magazines DOVE, Dove CASE, and STYLE

About the Author
MASSIMO ROSATI is an architect and journalist. He has acquired considerable experience in specialized publishing, where he has worked with many of the most important periodicals in the trade. He has being editor of the prestigious magazine La Mia Casa since 1997.../ GIANCARLO GARDIN is an Italian photographer specialized in architecture with well deserved international reputation for parthnering with leading furniture, architecture and gardening magazines. The author of famous books, he established the publisher Archideos Libri and still manages it today.........../ GIANFRANCO FINI was born is 1936 in Rome, Italy, the city where he graduated in architecture from La Sapienza University and where he has been practicing the profession of architect and designer since mid 70s. Father of two talented daughters Francesca and Nicola, is an architect who comes from an artistic background, having taken an active part in the sixties movement known as the Roman School, which focused on the famous gallery La Tartaruga, whose numbers include the now successful painters and scuptors Kounellis, Ceroli, Festa, Schifano and Angeli. Fini has partnered with the sculptor Mario Ceroli to create stage-sets for productions directed by Bolognini and Patroni Griffi at La Scala in Milan, at the Opera House in Rome, at La Fenice in Venice, at the Arena in Verona and in other theatres and opera houses. Between 1971 and 1975, he designed the Valentino boutiques in Rome, Munich, Paris and, New York. As a designer, he has created several artistic and cultural works, such as the House of Neptune in Bologna in 1994, the Italian pavilion for the New Orleans Water Fair in 1992, the design for large exhibitions, such as The Normans: a European People in Palazzo Venezia, Rome, in 1994, the church and theatre in Porto Rotondo in 1995 (again with Ceroli) and, again as an architect working in Porto Rotondo Sardinia-, the master plan for the Yachting Marina and the piazzetta at the Sport

Customer Reviews

The Best Keep Secret in the Caribbean unveils.
This is the only book available about Marinas from an architectural standpoint. Blueprints, sketches and more than 300 full-color pictures are a never ending source for one of the most luxurious approach to Caribbean Architecture. It's about the renowned Marina at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic and is a must for anyone willing see from the inside out as many options as possible to recreate a tropical paradise despite if it's and apartment or a houses under 2,000 sqf or a masterpiece above 20,000 sqf.
In contrast with W.R. Blain's book for "Marina Developments" -That is an excellent and maybe the only book about Marinas from a structural standpoint- this one is an architectural approach to Marinas and all the elements around it such as Yacht Club, Apartments, Houses, Restaurants and all related services. It's full of details and references in a text that is catchy and easy to read. My only concern was that I thought it was pricy in the first place despite that it was printed and bounded in Italy, but Blain's book is above the $250 and this one is more related to interior design and architecture so it's worth 5 out 5 starts.

A place to visit before you dies.
This is a book about one of those magical places that once you get there you don't want to leave. It's in the path of boats coming from Miami to the West Indies and is the place to see in the Caribbean before you die. Casa de Campo is the Caribbean most complete resort by far where any possible hobby in the world could practiced at world renowned conditions -besides skiing, except if you change it for water-sky-. The book about the Casa de Campo's Marina is definitely a 5 start in class, quality and content. This is the real thing in Caribbean Elegance and Luxury where you'll be able to find some of the most exclusive houses in the region.

Caribbean Elegance
Through his work at la Marina, Casa de Campo, Gian Franco Fini captures the essence of refined architecture with a perfect air of Caribbean elegance.