Earlier this year, David Walsh, founder of Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), launched a plan to open up a casino on the property. Now, the concept is starting to take shape, as the design for Monaco (MONA Casino) has been revealed. According to Architecture AU, Javier Senosiain has designed the look of the new casino. He is renowned for is ‘organic’ architecture, which has been compared to Gaudi.
He states that the casino will have a look that is unlike any other gambling venues, as it will feature “closed edifices of steel and gloss”. Walsh wants the casino to be the type of property that people would want to visit for the architecture alone. Since Federal Group has a monopoly on casino licenses in Tasmania, Walsh states that Monaco “needs to function at a level beyond that of a cash palace.”
However, there is a possibility that the venue will receive a license when Federal Group’s monopoly comes up for renewal in 2023. While that is quite some time away, David Walsh already in the planning stages of the Mona Casino, as construction and regulatory steps are likely to take a while. The project will also feature a 160-room hotel, with a library, function centre, restaurant, bar and shopping centre.
The rooms in the hotel will be designed by famous artists. There will also be an extension to the gallery, which will house works by James Turrell. The casino aims to attract visitors from around the world, who have an interest in art and gambling. It will appeal to high roller visitors, and there has been talk of the venue not being open to locals.
David Walsh has also stated that he does not want any poker machines at the casino, and that the main focus will be on table games and card games.
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