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Origin and history

The Atrium Casino in Dax, inaugurated in 1928, was born by an initiative of Mayor Eugene Millies-Lacroix to boost the spa. Designed by architects André Granet (Paris), Albert Pomade and Jean Prunetti (Dax), it embodies Art Deco aesthetics, combining reinforced concrete and ancient references. Its open-air amphitheater, stained glass windows signed by Louis Barillet and decorated with golden stucco make it an architectural gem. The building, which has been a municipal property since 1968, suffered from the weather before being restored and reopened in 2005 after its registration in the Historic Monuments in 2000.

From its opening, the Atrium Casino is positioned as a versatile venue, welcoming balls, operas (like Mireille de Gounod at the inauguration), cinematographic screenings and social evenings. It attracts an international clientele for the thermal baths, while becoming a gathering space for the Dacquois. Concerts, dominic dances and film sessions reinforce its roots in local cultural life, as evidenced by the 1930s press archives.

The architecture of the Atrium Casino illustrates a synthesis between technical modernity and ancient inspiration. The reinforced concrete, used for its formal freedom, structure monumental volumes such as the entrance hall to the interrupted pediments or boxes in corbellation. Inside, the interior decorations – abstract stained glass from the bar, wrought iron ramps, mosaics from the lobby – are signed by renowned artisans, including master glassmaker Louis Barillet and decorator Victor Coutray. These elements recall the spirit of the Arcades des Champs-Élysées in Paris, while affirming a local identity.

The decline of the building, due to its inability to adapt to the ocean climate, leads to its closure after sixty years of activity. The restoration works, centered on the large room of 800 squares with gilded and silver stucco (described as an "extraordinary garden" by an art historian), revive the place. Today, the Atrium Casino offers shows, galas and concerts, continuing its role as a cultural hub in the Landes.

The initial project, led by André Granet and Roger-Henri Expert, included a larger complex including two casinos and several hotels, intended to replace the thermal baths and the old casino destroyed by a fire in 1926. Only the Atrium Casino and the nearby Splendid Hotel will be realized. The building, owned by the city since 1968, symbolizes the golden age of the spas and the architectural audacity of the inter-war period.

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