Hotel World

The Hilton Garden Inn Gaborone forms part of a mixed-use development in the New Gaborone Central Business District in Botswana. It’s design, by SVA International, is the result of the dialogue of four different functions in the same block, including a sevenstorey Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, a three-storey commercial building, parking at semi-basement and public space around and in between the building blocks.

SVA International opted for a sensible approach to the urban design aiming for a pedestrian friendly, visually pleasant, mixed-use development with a gardened central courtyard, which allows circulation to the hotel drop-off and accessible parking at the most convenient level for the city and the tenants. It is a sensitive design that considers not only the scale of the buildings, especially the human scale of its users, but also connectivity with the CBD.

The architecture of the buildings features a modern and contemporary approach, speaking to the environment and landscape directly, by taking into account elements like the culture, climate and surrounding functions resulting in a pedestrian scaled ground floor, large overhangs (to create deep shaded internal spaces) and solar control systems that double up to enhance the architectural aesthetic.

Instead of creating a closed continuous building with restricted access, the project has been conceptualised as a complementary public space open to the public at ground level.

While the commercial block has been kept to three storeys, the hotel has been designed as a seven storey building to comply with the precepts of the iconic nature of the Hilton brand and its function as a hotel, including vertical gardens on a contemporary-style building, and the efficient use of floor space.

The two buildings have a convenient orientation in terms of reduced sun exposure to the east and west, while still offering quality views to the interior and exterior of the block. This orientation also allows for sunlight gain in winter and protection from west and east low-sun in summer, which in turn translates into a huge power consumption saving. Continuity of the shapes of the buildings has been ensured with the use of continuous canopies in line with the building lines alongside the main roads next to the site.

The two buildings negotiate a central public space between them, which offers urban permeability and an active ground floor, encouraging residents to visit the central square.

The landscape design includes water-wise vegetation in the form of ground-floor gardens, vertical green walls, and tall trees rising up from natural ground level, working together to provide a refreshing image of the whole complex. The inviting trees and gardens provide a pocket of relaxation in the busy CBD and encourage residents to visit the central square and the retail space defined by the hotel’s reception, the restaurant and restaurant terrace, garden lounge and bar.

As the landscaping establishes itself, its water-wise vegetation will include vertical green walls and tall trees working together to provide a refreshing image for the whole complex.

Instead of creating a closed continuous building with restricted access, the project has been conceptualised as a complementary public space open to the public at ground level. The two buildings rise to the sides, completing the scheme and negotiating a central public space in between – which also offers urban permeability and an active ground floor, a convenient drop-off zone for the hotel, and easy access parking for wheelchair users. The pedestrianfriendly design encourages access by the floating and permanent community in the new CBD. It also offers a pleasant and accessible area in which people can enjoy a meal or a coffee at the restaurant, or perhaps a drink in the hotel’s bar overlooking the public parking deck and green spaces. The project will efficiently contribute to the excitement and vitality of the CBD and the life of the street.

The hotel has been designed as a seven-storey building to comply with the iconic nature of the brand, while its orientation and large overhangs create deep shaded internal spaces.