The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius

The Oberoi Mauritius is located at Turtle Bay on the northwest coast of Mauritius. It has twenty acres of lush sub-tropical gardens, six hundred metres of ocean front and is surrounded by a turquoise lagoon; a majestic range of green mountains can be seen on the horizon.

The 20 acre site of The Oberoi Mauritius occupies a headland facing west. It is essentially a flat plateau, rising some 100 metres above sea-level. During the development of the foundation while basic grading was being undertaken, huge naturally-worn boulders (many as big as a car) were discovered just under the soil and have been used to form the contours of the gardens and landscape. The swimming pools –which are right on the beach - are hidden from view from the guest rooms. The resort is entered by driving past a 12 metre high aqueduct - reminiscent of the aqueducts used to water the sugar cane fields - which spills water into a natural freshwater pond. High vertical edges of this pond are softened with the profusely flowering yellow Allamanda.

Guest rooms and public buildings have been dyed ‘rust’ to match the natural volcanic boulders and the roofs are covered with a thick sugar cane thatch. The walls are stacked boulders which complete a very rustic landscape palette which enhances the natural curves of the hotel site. All rooms have been integrated with the natural landscape so that the resort is more like a spacious garden than a hotel building.