The Tilt in the Hospitality Industry

The difference between regular hotels, resorts, and boutique hotels is the fact that there is a tad bit more spice to the boutique spaces. Boutiques generally have some sort of specialization is involved in the fabrication of their interiors. With their quirks and often whimsical details, boutique hotels are by far more enjoyable to witness and  experience than other genres within the hospitality industry. They usually tend to have a smaller number of rooms, making them ideal for customization, with finesse in detailing. Located in the bustling district of Lekki Phase I, Angle Villa stands as an iconic boutique hotel worth of emulation.

It is my assumption that the name Angle was inspired by problematic areas in the construction, as it is a renovation project. This fundamentally means that things were not built from scratch, and in a bid to actualize the project, walls had to be angled to conceal problematic areas. Refurbished constructions are by far harder to work around that new-builds. Think of it like upgrading an iPhone, while using a Nokia 3610 (pretty sure I just aged myself but you catch my drift). The design cleverly conceals columns and difficult corners within the internal and external spaces.

The development, actualized by Structon Limited, is a compilation of 9  suites. An oddly small number for a hotel (my family could easily fill it), this boutique hotel can get away with it. Just for the record, boutique hotels usually start roughly from about 15 rooms. In the day and age of Airbnb, anything is possible in the hospitality sector. Keeping in mind that it is a renovation project, it is pretty much impossible to add more spaces, as the construction was not originally designed to carry excess load.

Notwithstanding, the edifice and attention to detail is one of the best examples I have come across in Lagos. Right from the exterior of the building, a recessed entrance brings you into the cozy reception that brings the angled concept to life. Between the niches and wooden partition shelf within the reception foyer, everything in the area is angular. Tucked beside the bar is a stairway that leads to the guest rooms. The textured wallpaper application in the initial space showcases a muted palette of grey and white. This colour scheme allows for more drama within the restricted entry area, leading to the main lounge and adjacent bar.

Within the bar and lounge areas, the color of the walls change to white, allowing natural light to filter into the space, through sliding windows. The serene view from the south-facing window captures a wooden wall of shingle-like horizontal planks, juxtaposed with cascading vegetation, on a bedrock of angled paving stones. The view reminds me of minimalism within the confines of materiality. The only pops of colour in the space come from the loose furniture. Some seats have pattern differentiation, while others have bold colour upholstery.

Each detail within the boutique hotel is well considered and actualized with precision. From the wooden partitions demarcating the lounge from the restaurant, to the angled wall and ceiling treatment, all the way down to the tile pattern and floor design, this project uniquely embodies its name and lives up to its title. The concept is taken literarily though the building, making it relatable at every turn. They say big things come in small packages. Although this project is small in square meter, it packs a punch with each angle in its fabrication.