Travel and Trade: A Blog for Design Lovers and Adventurers in South Africa and Beyond.
Explore the beauty and diversity of South Africa and its surroundings, and meet the local entrepreneurs and artisans who create amazing products and stories. Travel and trade is a concept that blends tourism and culture, giving you a rich and unforgettable experience in this stunning continent. From architecture to art, from vintage cars to African decor, our blog will inspire you with every post.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
Northpoint (Pty) Ltd, Architect, Urban Planners, Interior and Graphic Designers, originally known as Duxbury, Faerch & Associates; founded in 1987 by Raymond Duxbury and Ulrich Faerch. Initially the firm operated in a focused niche market dealing primarily with concept design and interior design.
Silverstar Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex, The contemporary, up-market hotel is the epitome of modern, affluent living stirring a neo-African architectural feeling. The brand “Not the usual” created for the complex stems from the overall concept design of the scheme – inspired around a lifestyle guest experience.
The complex has been designed to blend in with the environment while still making an impressive architectural statement. Feng Shui and green building design principles were also considered integral to the overall design of the building form. The scheme opens out and focuses on the water fountain feature.
The Hotel, Health Spa, and all the restaurants as well as the fast food court open onto a boardwalk creating a waterfront ambiance. The complex encloses the water feature creating an enchanted private space on to which all the activities focus and culminate.
The hotel’s 38 luxury rooms and suites overlook the beautiful signature water fountain, the 3rd largest musical fountain in the world, which is also a marvel of design excellence. This is also the hotel that never sleeps with its ultra modern casino, conference center (500 – 600 banquet seating venue) and restaurants. But when you do want to unwind or wind down, where better than at the Solstice Spa. The Spa and Wellness Center offers 15 treatment rooms for VIP pampering and its own gym. Facilities include a steam room, flotation tank, a state of the art razul for specialized mud bath treatments, hot and cold pools and hydro baths.
Monticello Hotel & Casino - ChileWith a modern contemporary styled External and Interior Architecture, complemented by strong horizontal and vertical lines and controlled expansive uses of materials and colour, this facility is certainly a trend setter within the region.
Food and beverage offerings are by way of a spatially grand buffet breakfast Restaurant with double volume dining floor and incredible views. A penthouse styled Lounge offers evening relaxation with an external terrace perched above all and vistas enjoyed and associated with “eagle nest” living. In house relaxation and entertainment is further
enhanced by a temperature controlled indoor/outdoor pool terrace, fitness centre, Spa & Wellness facility.
The Casino Hotel boasts 155 keys, inclusive of a Presidential Suite and 3 Junior Suites with private pool terraces, with all rooms offering a modern interior aesthetics and pleasurable space to relax in.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort The hotel which recently opened consists of 160 keys, 43 keys for villas and 10 keys for the Royal Pavilion Villas. The resort also offers restaurants, bar and grill, a gymnasium and spa facility.
A seasonally harsh environment and material restrictions compelled the design to withdraw further into tight, dim interiors, creating a longing for the freedom of open space - space without undue emphasis upon structure. The limitations imposed by structure become invisible under a veil of surface treatment, by polychrome paint, carved plaster, patterned inlay and glittering tiles.
Space is made dynamic and ambiguous by changes in levels and direction, by various degrees of openness, the contrasting of high and low, wide and narrow, bright and shaded.
Light filters through screens or coloured glass and is diffused by reflecting surfaces, having a mellow, space dissolving effect. Lamps are fashioned to scatter the light and further a sense of ambiguity, as whiffs of incense and perfumes and the extended rhythms of Arabic music confirm the ephemeral quality of existence.
