Re-opening at the end of the year on the northern coast of Mauritius, the LUX* Grand Gaube has been re-imagined into a retro-chic tropical retreat and wellness centre like no other.
British designer Kelly Hoppen MBE and Mauritian architect Jean-Francois Adam have reinvented this fresh-spirited luxury resort and spa. In doing so they have introduced an innovative approach to style and hospitality to Mauritius.
The sheltered north-facing resort has been re-modelled to greet arriving guests with a staggering, uninterrupted view of the Indian Ocean as well as the offshore islands. No stone of the former building has been left unturned as part of the US$32 million renovations, while the natural setting has been preserved.
Channelling fond memories of favorite holidays in Cape Town, Capri, Mallorca and Antigua, and having fallen for the energy of Grand Gaube itself, Kelly Hoppen has created a feel-good factor that no other Indian Ocean destination has known. By gently layering every look with tactile ceramics, hand-picked accessories, vintage rattan and residential quality soft furnishings, Kelly Hoppen’s designs breathe uplifting style and soul into every space, while inviting nature inside, wherever possible.
Atmospheric and entertaining eatery space Palm Court
Artist flair is also on the agenda at LUX* Grand Gaube. French street-artist Jace will be sharing his famous Gouzou illustration around the resort prompting the chance to play ‘Gouzou Spotting’; London-based French artist Camille Walala is painting original murals — her much-Instagrammed brightly-coloured designs grace walls from Melbourne to Manhattan, and now Mauritius.
Jean-Francois Adam’s ambition for LUX* Grand Gaube has been to design comfortable tropical living through contemporary spaces. The architect’s method is to think and rethink projects to ensure that volumes are generous, lines are precise and style is unpretentious. Convinced that architecture has a heart and a soul, he unites artistic talent with rational mind to bring life to his designs. For him, it all starts with a sound understanding of the site’s characteristics and constraints to identify what constitutes its spirit.
Sustainability
The LUX* Portfolio’s Tread Lightly programme includes their award-winning Earth & Dance water bottled in-house using refillable glass and they’ve upgraded to LED lighting across all of their resorts. Café LUX* uses ethically sourced coffee and their Mamma Aroma amenities are as kind to the earth as they are to your skin. A €1 per night voluntary donation allows guests to offset 100% of the carbon produced during their stay. Projects funded by this contribution include the Sarako Solar Farm in Mauritius, which supplies 35,000 people with green electricity. Contemporary glass balconies have replaced the wooden balustrades, while age-old skills were preserved through specialist local craftsmen who looked after the traditional dry-stone walls and roofs thatched with dried sugarcane leaves.
LUX* Resorts & Hotels is a member of Lux Island Resorts Co Ltd, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and is an affiliate member of IBL, leader of the Top 100 Mauritian companies. IBL is active in key sectors of the Mauritian economy, representing a portfolio of approximately 300 subsidiaries and associated companies.
