Salt of Palmar Hotel in Mauritius features the Vibrant Colours and Bold Graphics of Camille Walala

Tekla Evelina Severin

French Artist and Designer Camille Walala recently completed her first architectural project, bringing her bold style and signature graphics into the spaces of the Salt of Palmar Hotel in Mauritius.

Designed in collaboration with Jean‐François Adam of Mauritian architectural practice, JFA architects, the new scheme features a distinctive colour palette, inspired by the aesthetic of Mauritius paired with Camille’s bold monochromatic patterns. This mix is interwoven into the various spaces and objects within and around the boutique hotel, complementing the landscape of Island nation.

“I was blown away with how many vibrant and bold colours you find around the island, From the emerald green of the plants to the ever-changing colours of the sky, I wanted to marry these warm and natural tones to my signature pop colours.”

Camille Walala on discovering colour in Mauritius [via dezeen]

The Salt of Palmar hotel, which occupies a riad-style building on the east coast of the island, contains 59 guest suites, a restaurant and a spa, all of which have been transformed by the artist’s tropical hues and graphic prints. It is the first in a series of hotels by the resort group Lux planned for exotic international locations including Turkey and China.

The building’s exterior, which was originally burnt orange, now wears a lighter peachy shade, emulating the pastel facades of typical Mauritian homes. The outdoor daybeds, chairs, and cushions have been upholstered in shades of cobalt blue and turquoise to mimic the hue of the Indian Ocean.

Camille’s signature pattern comes in at a number of places, such as the
yellow walls of communal lounge areas and the parasols by the pool, or quite notably, the tiled underside of water features. Striated Timber partition walls, inspired by the monochromatic pattern also feature prominently within the hotel’s dining area and bedrooms along with locally produced decor pieces like circular pendant lamps.

“What was different for me this time is the sheer quantity of things to take into consideration when designing; not only do colours and pattern have to complement each other, but fabrics, textures, surfaces, light, functionality and moods are also critically important to consider,”


Camille Walala on the wealth of complexity of the project [via dezeen]

Photography by Tekla Evelina Severin.

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