dhki conceptualised a proposal to reimagine the VIP Grand Maputo hotel, a 25-year-old property located in the heart of Maputo, Mozambique. As one of the first hotels in the area, it has maintained a long-standing presence in the city. The building features a reception and lounge, restaurants and bar, courtyard, spa and pool, conference and breakaway areas, and guest suites. dhki’s proposal offered a vision for how the hotel could be reimagined, in a concept designed to inject new life into the existing building and enhance competitiveness in Maputo's increasingly busy hospitality market.

The hotel was envisaged as an urban oasis. The interior design concept celebrates contemporary Maputo as the country's economic and cultural heart, supported by an eclectic mix of traditional markets, vibrant arts and a recognised culinary scene to underpin the coastal tourism drawcards. To create a distinctive design language, the dhki team drew on the unique characteristics of the bustling port city, such as its wide, jacaranda-lined streets and an architectural landscape shaped by colonial Portuguese heritage, modern day commerce and traditional African roots, with trace influences from Arabic, Indian and Chinese cultures. Striking contrasts of ebony and ivory, traditional and modern and European and African aesthetics create a haven of tranquillity.

The interior design weaves a rich tapestry of shapes, textures and materials reflecting Mozambique's multifaceted history and culture. Subtle design elements offer a nod to tradition within an unapologetically contemporary configuration. Hints of Portuguese, Indian, Chinese and Caribbean influences complemented clean lines, while delicate pattern motifs reflect the geometry of sacred scarification. Dark woods and muted tones express the ebony and ivory of the country's rich natural environment.

The overall effect transforms the hotel into an urban oasis in the bustling heart of Maputo, where guests can find stillness, exhale and recharge before the next leg of their journey.