Having been completed back in 2009, project Radisson Blu Hotel is one of the most beautifully designed buildings to have ever been raised in Dakar, Senegal...
It was superbly brought to being by SAOTA, architectural practice from Cape Town, together with AARS Architects.
The architects have come with an interesting description of it, saying: “Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and tucked away in the Fann Corniche, the new Radisson Blu Hotel is a contemporary expression of Senegalese style. The hotel was commissioned by the Teylium Group and forms part of a larger development which includes designer retail stores, apartments, spa, cinema and a bowling alley. The brief called for 180 suites, a fine dining restaurant, an all-day restaurant, conference facilities, meeting rooms and admin facilities.”
One intriguingly hard issue was the planning that had to be done for the corniche, a very important public facility, which meant that the main portion of the building had to be built below road level. Furthermore, those venturing inside the Radisson Blu must be able to enjoy the vistas towards the west, therefore the designers have had to think of this as well. Even the entrance is rather astounding, consisting of a huge foyer with spiral staircase as the primary node to tie together the rooms, the pool, the restaurant and the conference facilities.
D.C.
