Recently named one of Time Magazine’s ‘Greatest Places’ and a Mr & Mrs Smith ‘Local Hotel Hero’, the SALT of Palmar hotel on the east coast of Mauritius was originally created in 2005 by renowned Mauritian architect Maurice Giraud and has been given a blast of local color inside and out by London-based French artist Camille Walala, with a new interior scheme that runs through the hotel’s 59 rooms and public areas.

Walala, and long-standing collaborator Julia Jomaa, worked closely with Mauritian architect John-François Adams to realize a vision for the dramatic geometric building inspired by both the natural landscape and the man-made environment of the surrounding island. “I was blown away with how many vibrant and bold colors you find around the island,” said Walala. “People paint their houses in the most amazing tones that really stand out against the lush tropical setting. From the emerald green of the plants to the ever-changing colors of the sky, I wanted to marry these warm natural tones to my signature pop colors.”
Described by Time Magazine as “eye-popping Instagram bait”, SALT of Palmar’s beauty is more than screen-deep. The hotel was conceived to champion sustainability, connect with the local community, and introduce culturally curious travelers to the real Mauritius. “This isn?t a hotel that begrudgingly makes concessions to the environment,” said the Mr & Mrs ...