THE SIGNATURE, MAURITIUS
The Signature has officially broken ground in Mont Choisy, Mauritius. Designed by dhk Architects for the Mont Choisy Group, the 24,000m ² mixed-use development incorporates the studio’ s expertise in urban design, architecture, interior design and graphic design. The groundbreaking event included a traditional blessing ceremony, a customary practice in Mauritius, to prepare the land and set intentions for prosperity. This ritual reflects the project’ s strong connection to local culture and sense of place.
Located on Boulevard de Mont Choisy, at the heart of Mont Choisy Smart City, adjacent to the vibrant tourism destination of Grand Baie in Mauritius, the development will include 95 apartments, ground floor retail and restaurant space for a mix of tenants, first-floor offices and a basement with parking and service areas. The apartments in The Signature are designed to reflect the Mauritian lifestyle of indoor-outdoor living. They are arranged in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Internal spaces are optimised to accommodate maximum flexibility, efficiency and value. Currently, Le Boulevard lacks a high-quality environment for local people and visitors to browse in an active, people-friendly place. The Signature is a catalyst for a shift in this status quo. The concept for Le Boulevard is that of a contemporary high street, with ground-level retail spaces and commercial and residential accommodation above.
In Mauritius, traditionally, urban development is car-led. Le Boulevard bucks this trend by placing pedestrians at the centre of the urban experience. The public realm is permeable and pedestrian-friendly, connected into a green route that runs through the Smart City.
The masterplan conceptualised by dhk’ s urban design team encompasses various precincts, each with a unique character. The Social Quarter, for instance, incorporates retail, dining and entertainment; the Living Quarter features residential-led mixed-use developments; the Central Quarter comprises a mix of uses; and the Business Quarter hosts commercial, mixeduse and retail uses. The Signature’ s gateway quality illustrates the vision for the overall masterplan. The design prioritises a vibrant, high-quality public realm, with public spaces configured around a public open courtyard, lined with ground-floor retail and restaurants.
36 Project Watch