The Concord designed by architect Reza Kabul, Director ARK Reza Kabul Architectsis an elegant four-star rated hotel inNairobi, Kenya featuring the best of convenience, luxury and entertainment.
The scope of the work for the architects included façade design, interiors and planning. Their design philosophy for the project was to depict Nairobi as a modern city yet rooted in culture that would be astatement of architectural excellence. In sync with the design concept, the atmosphere and vibe of the hotel spread across an area of 10,166sqm was kept modern and luxurious with hints of traditional African accents, leaving the guests with an eye catching ‘wow’ factor.
The double heighted entrance lobby is a warm and welcoming space draped in hues of beige with Irish brown marble cladding accents. The furniture is handpicked to reflect the transformation of Nairobi from a sleepy city to a cosmopolitan, dynamic, capital of culture in Africa. This design idea extends in the unique selection of artifacts, figurines and vases. For instance, the rounded pendant lights are influenced by the local crafts and add warmth to the overall space.The stepped and leveled ceiling adds character to the lobby, while achieving maximum height as no large HVAC services run overhead.
As the local temperature varies between 17 to 24 degrees Celsius throughout the year, the lobby and other public spaces are non-air-conditioned and designed ample with cross ventilation. This helps keep the ambient temperature comparatively lower than outside while saving ample of unnecessary energy consumption.
The Guest Rooms
With over 86 lavish rooms including Royal, Executive, Superior and Deluxe Suites, the guest rooms at The Concord offer the finest indulgence and lifestyle designed around the guest’s needs and wishes. Each room is designed with complete modern points for TV, DSTV, Cable TV, telephone, high speed internet, intercom, push button alarms, smoke detectors, and instant hot water.
Offering a view towering over the capital city, the rooms are modern in style with a sense ofsafety and comfort. The color palette of yellows, browns, and whites provide a simple and relaxed feel to the space. One floor of guest rooms has been dedicated solely for women guests who travel by themselves and wish to opt for the facility. The color palette of these rooms is dominated in shades of fuchsia, brown and white.
The top floor features a premium 2 BHK living space for family travelers and executives. Offering a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding green areas, the lumber theme runs across the entire space, with cut wood effect carpets and a blend of local elements.
The Restaurants
The guests embark into a culturally designed gastronomic journey at the specialty restaurants and cafes strategically designed by the architects.
Umami, the Oriental restaurant is located on the mezzanine level above the reception area, spreading from the central atrium to the outdoor seating. The electric red coupled with earthy brown theme is a reflection of the oriental culture. Red symbolizes good luck and generates energy and the brown engulfs one in a feeling of calmness and comfort. The contours in the ceiling and the red custom ceiling lighting add dynamism to the space. The bar counter breaks the color trend with a blue LED-lit frosted glass accent.
Curry Flavors, the Indian themed restaurant, is located on the higher levels of The Concord. The space offers a stunning city view along with an elaborate dining experience. Designed in materials that reflect ethnicity, elements such as the khatiya seating (cots) with the green throw pillows and blue sofas add a vibrant Indian touch. The cross strip element on the ceiling adds individuality to the space while the indented partition walls provide the guests with privacy.
Bonhomie, French for friendliness, is a casual meeting hub located on the ground level. The rattan furniture along with the open ambient feel makes the space ideal for coffees and conversations. Keeping in mind the safety of the guests, the boundary railing of the restaurant is made of bullet proof glass.
Oasis Bar, a small cozy alcove’s key feature is its glass bottom floor. The futuristic backlit bar stools and counters add a new age feel.
The hotel comes replete with a fine mix of luxurious amenities; offering choices between a leisurely dip at the aquamarine pool, pampering spa services or steam-sauna-Jacuzzi facilities. The conference facilities are draped in dapper tones of beige and wood. The outsized space is apt for large events and for closed door conferences or functions, the movable partition walls transform the space into smaller venues.
Strategically located on Wangapala Road at a walking distance from The Diamond Plaza Shopping Centre and The Aga Khan University Hospital; the property has everything including parks to airports in a short drive radius.
