A contemporary redesign - PATRICK GENARD Y ASOCIADOS -
The new Barceló Anfa in Casablanca brings the emblematic building of the old Hotel Rivoli alive taking advantage of the modernist style of its interesting facade composed of a superposition of interlocking cubes , and high-ceilinged public spaces . A spectacular facade is created by reworking the faces of the cubes , providing generous glazed openings and terraces overlooking a superb view of the bustling city . The existing blind base of the hotel has been totally transformed , wide open , with a triple height glass curtain wall that creates a giant screen / storefront connecting hotel life to the Anfa Boulevard .
The classic Art Deco pattern , inspired by the oblique structural frame of the building , is reinterpreted , and becomes the pattern that serves as a common thread for the interior design of the hotel . For example , the layout in three shades of gray marble which conforms to a “ tartan ” frame extending over the entire surface of the ground floor , establishes a neutral and elegant background , perfect for receiving the furniture in gray-green , dark gray , and rust carefully studied and balanced according to the different spaces . Likewise , the existing structural columns , mirrored on their narrow sides , are transformed into elegant strips of marble floating in space . The acoustic ceiling takes up the geometry of the oblique grid like a common thread that accompanies the visitor in all spaces . The materials play on the nobility of marble and brass and the warmth of wood and leather . Lightened velvets , wood coverings in warm tones , golden and modern accents , over-scaled plants and mirrors dress and transform the space . The soft lighting is directly inspired by Moroccan know-how in the perforated metal lanterns .
The primary objective of the decoration is to enlarge the limited space of the bedroom . The bathroom opens up to the maximum as the bedroom ’ s parquet floor , suitable for wet areas , extends to the shower . The wall in front of the bed is mirrored from floor to ceiling to give the illusion that the space is double the size .
The leitmotif of the triangle is represented in the graphic patterning of the gray and white stone in the shower , in the delicate joints of the walnut wood panels , or in the topstitched velvet headboard . The hanging lamps bring the poetry of the flickering of traditional lanterns but here again redesigned in a contemporary way .
In conclusion , the Hotel , sensitive to the identity of place and to the historical and cultural richness of Casablanca , offers a variety of different experiences which celebrate , each in their own way , the richness of the Moroccan palette of atmospheres , styles , materials and crafts all reinterpreted in a contemporary way .
www . patrickgenard . com
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