WHEATBAKER HOTEL - INTERIORS

In 2007, Co-Arc was approached by Legacy Group to continue the development of an existing hotel project on Ikoyi Island in Lagos, Nigeria. The inherited development included a 1930s Art Deco heritage house and a three-story, partially-built wing of rooms

The house was built by Amos Shackleford, a local bread baker. This heritage was used to coin the name, The Wheatbaker. The local planning authority stipulated that as much of the original house be kept as possible. The curved facade at the heart of the building became the grand reception of the hotel, and the existing burnt-orange colour remained. The footprint and slabs of the room wing were retained, but were re-engineered to allow for five storeys of rooms.

The public functions are housed in two new wings to either side of the curved entrance. These include the restaurant, bars, deli, award-winning conference facilities, ballroom, and gym and spa. One of the new wings created a link between the existing house and the hotel rooms. This spatial arrangement allowed for a swimming pool nestled in a courtyard between the rooms and restaurants. With only 60 rooms, it was imperative for the success of the project that the hotel become a destination for the local community. The ambiance and excellence of the public functions enabled this, and today the facilities are enjoyed by travelers and locals alike.

The onerous heritage requirements of the development made the design process seem impossible at the time, but with the vital collaboration of local firm, FMA Architects, on the ground, the hotel has been greatly successful and has become an icon of Lagos culture.