COVER FEATURE ON THE COVER

from Building Engineering issue 17

by Building Engineering Mag

ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE

"Cast--stone paving manufactured and supplied by Home-Style Bricks "

Cubalaya Investments (Pvt) Ltd t/a Springwater Engineering Services Zimbabwe

Spring Water Engineering Services(Pty) Ltd was formed in 2012, by two share holders of African Construction Material Supplies CC, which has traded in South Africa as Spring Water since 2008

Turnkey Hot Water Solutions Turnkey Cold Water Solutions Turnkey Pipe Solutions Turnkey Grey Water Solutions Turnkey Filtration Solutions Turnkey Fire Pump and Sprinkler Solutions Piping Insulations Solar Systems Servicing and Maintenance Photovoltaic Electric Systems Fire Detection Swimming Pool Filtration Systems Heat Pumps Plumbing Engineering

THE PALM RIVER HOTEL

GATEWAY TO THE ZAMBEZI

Superbly located among the trees on the banks of the Zambezi river in Victoria Falls is yet another development from Spencer’s Creek ( Ilala Lodge Hotel ) in partnership with Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited. Their latest establishment, the

Palm River Hotel, has over two hundred meters of water frontage, with every single room of the

establishment overlooking the mighty Zambezi. At only 7kms from the world wonder, Victoria Falls, The Palm River Hotel is conveniently located for guests to experience luxury in a private setting, with easy access to the various activities on offer in the Victoria Falls area. Designed by local architect, Bruce Rowlands and his team, working in collaboration with Form Studio’s interior architect Kerry Van Leenhoff and in close consultation with the client. The design intent was to make the river, not the hotel, the predominant “first impression”; So instead of drawing attention to the buildings, they are set either side of a stunning view line, where the trees seem to invite the eye all the way downstream, almost as if they were pointing towards the waterfall in the distance. The buildings flanking the view are linked, not with a showy hotel foyer, but with a slender steel bridge. Just enough of a statement to create a welcoming threshold, to complete the framing of the view, and to make a historical reference to the original iconic Victoria

Falls Bridge. Guests are welcomed through this viewing portal onto a travertine terrace, from where they can drink in a panoramic view of the Zambezi. The landscaping and outdoor areas, in their every line and detail, are intended to complement, rather than compete with the beauty of the river; The pool, the decks and the paving areas are all stretched out, as if drawn by the pull of the river. The terraces are broken up by planters rich in tropical foliage. The scenic pathways along the river edge will be finished in granite cobbles to match those that meander through the Vic Falls rainforest.Flagstones cross over the pool towards a timber jetty that will reach out to an elongated floating stargazer deck. This will serve as a docking place for the two beautiful Ra-Ikane cruise boats. As a first-time guest, you arrive, explore, and become thoroughly immersed in the natural beauty of the river frontage; long before being confronted with the formalities of checking in at

reception. This is according to the design intent to keep the pleasure of arriving at the forefront of the experience. Instead of standing at a reception desk with your back to the view, you are seated at a comfortable river-facing terrace, where the receptionist brings you a drink and takes you through an informal briefing. With Zimbabwe’s idyllic climate, the hotel’s outdoor areas are favoured by guests, and have received as much design detailing as the indoor areas. During rare periods of rain, the main building is able to accommodate all 150 dining guests indoors, but for most days of the year its huge shutters remain fully open to the outdoors.

Its upper level offers guests a beauty spa, a cosy library lounge, and a board room opening onto a private dining terrace. The triple storey design ensures every room has a river view, but to ensure these tall buildings do not mar the view from the river, the buildings’ roof line is kept below the tree line. All of the larger trees were preserved, washing these buildings in deep shade. The client’s choice of architectural inspiration was “Queenslander”. The elements borrowed from this style are deep colonnaded verandahs, balustrades and trellises. Not only do these shelter the interiors from the heat, they

cast multiple shadows over the building’s face, like dappled shade from trees, which helps break up and camouflage any stark outlines.In addition to the standard suites, the Palm River Hotel offers family suites, wheelchair accessible suites, executive suites, honeymoon suites, a luxurious presidential suite, and self-catering Villas. The client’s quest for sustainability is epitomized by the inclusion of solar heated water tanks that heat-exchange with the air conditioning plants for maximum efficiency. There is an allowance for the future addition of a solar farm on the site to cater for the hotel’s power needs ensuring that the Palm River Hotel is truly a green entity. Although

the development has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first 30 rooms are expected to be opened to the public on 1st of July 2021 and another 43 rooms in January 2022.