Have you ever known that …

Nairobi got its name from a Maasai phrase meaning “cool water”, referring to the river, which flows through the city? It takes the shape of streams and cascades running through Karura, the largest preserved forest in the country, home to treasures of Kenyan fauna and flora, encircling MGallery Gigiri.

The surrounding nature and the owners’ precious gemstone business were inspiration keys that shaped the interiors of a premium boutique hotel – the mythical jewel in the crown of an urban forest.

Reflection in Our Design

The forest almost streams into the contemporary see-through and asymmetric crystalline building through a lush green entrance – a smooth transition point from the outside in. Gems, crystals, greenery, light and water are central components in this elegant aquatic forest metaphor.

Organic, geometrical shapes and colours are placed, referencing jewels, presented on a minimalistic background of light grey walls. Light is reflected and diffracted through glass walls and elements with dichroic film, which defines the refraction of colour and causes an ever-changing game of light while adding an unexpected artistic feel.

We brought the forest inside even more with a sky-lit atrium space, filling it with water and large banana trees. An open-air bar extends into the building. Glass partitions can be folded in good weather to allow air into the hotel. A dramatic design combining glass transparency, iridescence, greenery and cutting edge technology unfolds to shape an enchanting aquatic dream.

When working on a luxurious 5-star hotel in Nairobi, distance is crucial. Bearing in mind that builders and manufacturers are not as highly qualified as in Europe, designers had to work out a design that was not only easy to live in, but to build as well. Especially given the fact, that construction took place simultaneously with design project development. Thus, layouts were often changed, yet the concept remained.

Given the status of guests of the future hotel, design solutions had to be spacious and multifunctional.  The conference rooms, in particular, provided the hotel’s proximity to the UN Africa headquarters, major NGOs and international embassies. A variety of F& B concepts implied the presence of multiple restaurants with different cuisines to satisfy even the most refined taste.

S+S team worked carefully to introduce references to Africa that were not too obvious, revealing these in subtle details such as carpets, art and decorations, such as metal and fabric fringe, that appears here and there.

Mostly local materials and suppliers were used in order to save budget and retain a sustainable approach. An abundance of green shades, live greenery and local organic materials, such as shells, emerald, marble, gold and wood magnify the beauty of naturally occurring earth and water elements.

As with a multifaceted jewel, depending on the light and standpoint, each glimpse reveals new colours, making MGallery Gigiri, the flagship hotel in Africa, a comfortable and sophisticated haven.