Projects
Classic Africa, combining privacy and transparency
Alessandra Coppa
IMOLACERAMICA
2007
Radisson Blu is a hotel complex built in 2007 and located six kilometres from Dakar, Senegal, in the heart of the Fann Corniche area, the waterfront that is home to villas, upscale apartments and luxury shops. Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts is part of the Rezidor Hotel Group which currently operates more than 155 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and counted a total of 47 projects undergoing development in 2009.
The hotel has a sober, rational appearance, while a creative and meticulous cross-sectional study and design of the perimeter closure devices assures a high degree of topological, climatic and visual integration with the surrounding landscape. The project displays a skilful combination of privacy and transparency, using terraces and arcades to allow the exterior environment to be appreciated in close contact with nature and the sea. The hotel thus projects itself outside, enabling guests to enjoy the ocean view from a privileged vantage point.
Inside, in both the rooms and the common spaces, white plastered walls and Italian ceramic tiled floors complement the sober furnishings and soft neutral coloured accessories.
The main ceramic tile used for the floors and walls in the Radisson Blu Hotel is the Travertino Series from ImolaCeramica, in a 60×60 cm size and natural, gloss polished and textured finishes. Some of the spaces are further enhanced by the use of Pietre d’Italia Series tiles in a 15×15 cm size. The extremely natural appearance of these wear-resistant porcelain tiles renders the space uniform, reviving the classic Italian ceramic tradition with contemporary design.
The hotel is a luxury 5-star facility facing directly onto the sea. It combines elegance and a renewed design in its forms and furnishing details, especially in the large common spaces such as the lounge bar, the restaurant hall, the solarium, the swimming pool and the spa.
Interesting plays of light and shadow are created by the large windows that interconnect the interior and exterior spaces. Special care has been devoted to the design of the night-time lighting in the swimming pool area.
The Radisson SAS Hotel in Dakar offers 180 exclusive rooms and suites where the furnishings blend contemporary style with classic African elegance. All rooms (standard, business and suite) are equipped with furnishings with an essential design, high-speed Internet access and free pay TV, and face onto either the Atlantic ocean or the hotel gardens. The suites provide extra space with a separate living room and bedroom. All suites are located on the upper floors of the hotel and in isolated areas and are ideal for guests seeking extra privacy or for families with children. One of the luxuries of the service is a surprise snack.
ImolaCeramica, Travertino - Pietre d'Italia
porcelain stoneware
60x60 - 15x15
white, beige
Water absorpion (ISO 10545-3): 0,05%
Chemical resistance (ISO 10545-13): min.UB
Resistance to deep abrasion (ISO 10545-6): 140 mm³
Stain resistance (ISO 10545-14): compliant
Frost resistance (ISO 10545-12): compliant
Modulus of rupture and breaking strength (ISO 10545-4): 50N/mm² = 509 kg/cm²
Slip resistance (DIN 51130): R10
Thermal shock resistance (ISO 10545-9): compliant
Crazing resistance (ISO 10545-11): compliant
Linear thermal expansion (ISO 10545-8): compliant
EMAS
ISO 14001