A Refurbishment of Kamp Ikaare Beach Resort in Lagos by CMD+A

The Kamp Ikaare Beach Resort is located off the coast of Lagos on the Island of Ikaare, a short boat ride from Victoria Island.

It boasts breathtaking views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Lagos Lagoon, and is a fairly popular getaway from the busy city of Lagos. Though set in a picturesque landscape, the resort’s 6 chalets and communal beach house were somewhat dated in their presentation with an aesthetic that seemingly clashed with its location.

A change in management saw CM Design Atelier commissioned to refurbish the resort. Much like their Ilashe Beach House, CMD+A were able to create style and texture that superbly fits the location and evokes a sense of that tropical getaway that is indigenous yet feels like an entirely different world.

Their design was inspired by the exotic Balinese architecture of Indonesia as well as the ambiance of the Ikaare site itself. With that they were able to transform the original scheme of concrete, cream and dark brown aluminium, to a more contextual scheme of wood, reed, raffia and thatch.

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The previous Kamp Ikaare Beach Resort

site plan

ground floor first floor cmda kamp ikaare model

GUEST CHALETS

Still sporting a cream and dark brown colour palette, the guest chalets in the new scheme, showcase CMD+A’s material selection. The bamboo reeds clad the ground floor walls of the chalets in a rich chocolate brown that contrasts well with both the sand all around and the cream walls of the first floor. The previous hip roofs were dialed down for simpler, wood and thatch gables, which are easier on the eyes arrayed along the beach front.

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The choice and style of interior finishing and furniture for the chalets is equally contextual with prominent use of wood and predominantly white walls that give the illusion of space in the cosy chalets. On the first floor, Faux-Timber styled Aluminium double doors seperate the inside from the fairly large deck outside where the view and sea breeze is even more prominent.

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CLUB HOUSE

The communal swimming pool and club House also carry a similar aesthetic to the chalets, with the cladding at the base being a richer timer brown this time around, and nicely complimented with white walls. Coming through the central promenade of the club house, you meet the bright blue communal pool which is kind of like the center piece of the resort. Still in the pool area, we see a fluid mural (no doubt inspired by the water feature) on a screen wall that also plays host to the outdoor bar. IKAARE FINAL 13 IKAARE FINAL 12
IKAARE FINAL 10 IKAARE FINAL 9IKAARE FINAL 2More “wood and white” greets you as you leave the pool area to ascend the spiral staircase of the clubhouse, bound by what appear to be sisal rope railings (remember those?). The open, pavillion style space that is the first floor (also bound by ‘rope railings’), can cater to about 50 people who would definitely enjoy the view and ofcourse the breeze. The columns have been wrapped in twine, offering a rough and rich texture that compliments the smooth wood flooring and roof members. Thatch was also used for the roof covering to match the chalets and complete the tropical look that CMD+A have come to master.   IKAARE FINAL 4IKAARE FINAL 11IKAARE FINAL 14IKAARE FINAL 1IKAARE FINAL 8


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The entirety of the design not only repositions the resort properly within its context but also amplifies the experience of guests opening them up to what living by the beach is like in the tropics. Theres no need for uber contemporary trappings and overtly modern minimalist architecture, just the right mix of materials and a proper use of space which doesn’t just look good, but also feels much more engaging. In closing, here’s what Nigerian Architect, Artist and Writer, Stephen Ajadi had to say about CMD+A’s new Kamp Ikaare;

“…cmD+A have been able to magically recalibrate the spirit of Kamp Ikaare, and it says a lot about their eye for detail and their respect for the site. cmD+A may be a small burgeoning practice, but the office’s demonstrated ability to capture space like a message in a bottle and wrap it around time is nothing but conspicuously profound.”

                                                       

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