Casino at Marino

The Casino at Marino, located in Marino, Dublin, Ireland was designed by Scottish architect Sir William Chambers for James Caulfeild, the 1st Earl of Charlemont, [http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/CasinoMarino/ Casino, Marino on the Heritage Ireland website] ] starting in the late 1750s and finishing around 1775. [http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/marino/casino.htm Casino, Marino on Irish-architecture.com] ] It is a small and perfect example of Neo-Classical architecture, situated in the gardens of Marino House. Although proud of the design, it is notable that due to his constant employment in England, Chambers was never able to visit the completed building.

The name 'Casino Marino' is derived from Italian which literally translates to 'The small house by the small sea'. Widely regarded as the most important Neo-Classical building in Ireland, the Casino is actually quite small, measuring only fifty feet square to the outer columns. In plan, it takes the form of a Greek Cross with a pair of columns framing each projecting elevation. Seen from the outside, the building has the appearance of a single roomed structure, with a large panelled door on the north elevation and a single large window on each of the other elevations. This is all illusion, however, as it actually contains 16 rooms on three floors. Only two of the panels in the door open to allow entrance, and the panes of glass in the windows are subtly curved, disguising the partitioning which allows what looks like a single window to serve several separate rooms.

Many other tricks are used throughout the construction in order to preserve the apparent simplicity of the design. Four of the columns which surround the building are hollow and used to drain rainwater from the roof, and Roman funerary urns on the roof are used as chimneys. [http://www.dochara.com/play/all/marino-casino.php]

The interior includes a basement level with a kitchen and associated rooms, a main floor with reception rooms and a top storey with servants rooms and a State Bedroom. It contains some very fine plasterwork ceilings and some elaborate hardwood parquet floors.

Originally the Casino was linked to Marino House by a tunnel, although this has more recently been blocked off due to building works in the area.

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