The Grand Hotel de L'Independance (or Hotel GHI), formerly the Hotel de France, is a hotel in downtown Conakry, Guinea.[1] The hotel was first opened in 1954 as the Hotel de France, with a modernistic design for the time. It was renamed the Grand Hotel de L'Independance when Guinea gained independence in 1958. The hotel was extensively renovated in 1996, operating under management by Novotel until 2013.
| Grand Hotel de L'Independance | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Conakry | |
| General information | |
| Location | Conakry, Guinea |
| Coordinates | 9°30′21″N 13°43′07″W / 9.505858°N 13.718705°W |
| Opening | 1954 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Atelier LWD |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 196 |
| Number of restaurants | 2 |
| Website | |
| https://archive.today/20130130143701/http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-0509-novotel-ghi-conakry/ | |
History
editThe hotel was built during the French colonial period in 1953 – 1954 as the first project of the Atelier LWD, with architects Guy Lagneau, Michel Weill and Jean Dimitrijevic.[2][3] It was sited opposite the mayoral residence.[4] The hotel was originally called the Hotel de France, renamed the Grand Hotel de L'Independance in 1958 when Guinea became independent of France.[5] The hotel was given the Novotel name in 1996, after extensive renovations.[5]
Structure
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The original building was a long, seven-storied building, supported by pillars, with a restaurant located in a circular pavilion.[6] The interior and furniture were designed by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé in 1953.[7] The design of the rooms allowed for natural ventilation. Prouvé created the facade of the restaurant, which consists of screens that swing open to the sea, and Perriand used her experience in humid climates with the interior rooms.[8] Mathieu Matégot undertook the decoration.[9]
After renovation, the Hotel GHI is one of the largest hotels in the country, with 12 floors in the new west wing. It is situated near the Presidential Palace, Sandervalia National Museum and Palais du Peuple.[10] The hotel has 196 rooms, two restaurants, two bars and five conference rooms used for meetings and seminars.[11] The Cote Jardin restaurant serves international cuisine and Cote Mer caters in French cuisine. The hotel bars are Baffila and Sorro.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jeune Afrique. Les Editions J.A. 1 January 1999. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ Institut français d'architecture; Caisse des dépôts et consignations (France). Mission des travaux historiques (1992). Architectures françaises outre-mer. Mardaga. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ^ Aloi, Giampiero (1961). Alberghi, motel, ristoranti. Hoepli. p. 101.
- ^ Mazrui, Alamin M.; Mutunga, Willy (2003). Debating the African Condition: Governance and leadership. Africa World Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-59221-147-0. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ a b "INTERVIEW WITH MONSIEUR JEAN-YVES DANET DIRECTEUR GENERAL DE L'HOTEL NOVOTEL-CONAKRY". Winne. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ Kultermann, Udo (1963). New architecture in Africa. Universe Books. p. 14. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ Hendel Teicher (Summer 1999). "Collective affinity". Artforum. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ Florence Lypsky (4 November 2010). "Hommage à Jean Dimitrijevic". Academie d'Architecture. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ "Mathieu Matégot". Mathieu Matégot. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ "Novotel Ghi Conakry - Conakry". Hotels.com. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ "Hotels". Guinea Mining Conference and Exhibition. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Hotel Novotel Ghi Conakry". Novotel. Archived from the original on 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
External links
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