Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/149416
STEVE WYNN The parasols adjacent to Wynn's Lake of Dreams, unquestionably among the resort's most-photographed decorative accents. "I liken it to Steve being the conductor of the orchestra... No matter what or how it comes together, you know you're going to end up with a beautiful piece of music." four existing properties, Wynn currently possesses more Forbes Five-Star awards than any other independent hotel company in the world, a feat that only amplifies the curiosity factor over Cotai. So what might the Wynn Palace look like? Wynn would share only a few ingredients—the mention of a floral theme throughout, of a lake that would spout fountains and fire, and of dragonlike air gondolas to transport guests over the lake to the entrance—but he nonetheless accomplishes his goal of anticipation: Given the Wynn reputation, it's not merely that you wonder what his latest Cotai resort might look like; it's far more likely you can't wait to find out. If you follow the evolution of Wynn's design sensibilities in Las Vegas, which trace their roots back to the renovation of the Golden Nugget, his first resort, in the 1980s, you can chart a path that also demonstrates how he and Thomas have cultivated their own artistic growth, how gleam and glitz and over-the-top, whiz-bang moments have been supplanted by notions of intimacy and discovery, and of a decidedly more delicate balance that deftly explores the differences between a wow and a sigh. You can witness this harmony every day at Wynn and Encore: how cabana tables chicly encircle a quiet lagoon at Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare, while on the other side of a tree embankment a 70-foot waterfall gushes into the Lake of Dreams; or how steps away from the bustle and cacophony of 28 the Wynn casino, goldfish-filled ponds burble along a mosaic walkway that leads high-roller guests up to the serenity of exquisitely appointed villas. How are such decisions made? "Think of this as a football team," Wynn says. "The quarterback has to call the play. But the wide receiver makes the spectacular catch and the terrific move, and all of a sudden it's all about the wide receiver. I can tell Roger as much as I can about what and who I think we are, though that's far from the last discussion. Then at some point my role changes from designer to editor; then Roger goes first in the conversations, and I get to react to Roger." Thomas offers a comparable analogy. "I liken it to Steve being the conductor of the orchestra," he says. "Someone has to make the decision of when the violins are going to be soft or the brass instruments are going to be loud. But no matter what or how it comes together, you know you're going to end up with a beautiful piece of music." Back in February 2005, roughly three months before his eponymous resort opened, Steve Wynn talked about why his primary water feature—the three-acre Lake of Dreams—was not positioned for viewing by pedestrians out on the Strip. Wynn had birthed the notion of sidewalk spectacles in Las Vegas, first with volcanoes at The Mirage, then a sinking WYNN 024-026_W_FOB_SteveWynn_Fall13.indd 28 8/9/13 11:21 AM