First, let’s find out what decorating showrooms have in store for our terraces, how textiles show style and furniture cachet… Then, let’s turn our attention to architecture, sharing the views of future professionals trained at ENSA Nantes-Maurice on the place and influence of multiculturalism in project management. Delphine Raimond
On an island entirely dependent on air and sea freight, it’s a challenge to keep up to date with the latest in home decor and outdoor furniture. Yes, the many specialist stores on the island are working hard to offer us their new collections, themselves inspired by the latest international trends, but no, it’s not easy to take them away with you, as the goods in question are not always available. The reason? The somewhat unfair actions of shipping companies, who use and abuse their power to reduce storage space, increase rates, as well as the circuit of ships, and therefore the journey time (sometimes extended by several weeks). To furnish, fit out, redecorate… we therefore need, in addition to a certain capacity for projection, to arm ourselves with patience, in order to keep smiling about the delivery times announced. That said, a number of showrooms today offer successful immersion in all aspects of furnishing and decorating, providing a convincing perspective on the desired result. And that’s already a small revolution in the realization of our projects!
Choice, stock and trends
To be sure of finding the right model and guaranteed stock – a major advantage – on a maximum number of flagship products, head to Plaisir du Jardinon the Route Royale in Pointe aux Canonniers. Despite his busy schedule, Maxime Gonin, the showroom manager, is quick to welcome me and list some of the new products that will soon be available in the showroom. While he continues to be frustrated by the major delivery problems faced by the brands since the post-Covid recovery, Maxime confirms that several containers loaded with goods are approaching the Mauritian coast. That’s the spirit! One of them contains a number of parasols designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and durable. “Here, despite the wind, many people open parasols on a daily basis. Of course, they fall down, break and get thrown away!” laments Maxime, before returning to the new Plaisir du Jardin model, entitled Azur. Made from ultra-resistant Sunbrella Marine canvas, the offset parasols and their 90 kg base (in granite and on castors) can be pivoted, tilted and… repaired! Canvas, ribs, mechanism and other parts are not only fully interchangeable, but also in stock! In this respect, it’s worth noting that ordering in one go undoubtedly helps to reduce our carbon footprint. Far less expensive than similar products previously imported from Belgium, they feature incomparable quality, two versions (Azur and Belize, the classic), two colors (white and anthracite) and attractive dimensions, 3 m x 3 m.
Then there’s the Heaven collection of ultra-chic, softly rounded garden furniture, which combines three materials (an aluminum frame, solid teak front legs and a rope cover) and comes in a complete range: sofa, dining table, coffee table, armchairs, chairs and elegant sunbeds. “Mattresses are thick and welcoming; the demand is for comfort, as well as quality, and the trend is towards round lines that have replaced rectilinear and right angles.” Finally, impatient and proud, Maxime points to a collection of characterful pieces with flowing lines entitled Cloud: “It includes superb coffee and dining tables, original and exclusive!” Designed in microskin, the new material similar to natural stone, bonded with cement and resin, this outdoor furniture is waterproof, sturdy and easy to maintain, as well as being elegant and practical, with its central foot.
Round, organic shapes, easy-to-live-with ceramics, and aluminum, the only material that doesn’t rust in Mauritius, are all very much in vogue. Wood may no longer be as popular with customers, but solid teak – the brand’s spearhead – is still very much in vogue, blending perfectly with contemporary indoor/outdoor furniture. According to Maxime, “the subject of teak remains a tricky one to tackle, since it’s available everywhere and at all prices… Not surprising, if it’s not real solid teak”! As for colors, forget gray, white and classic… Make way for sandy and natural tones, or the trendy cactus green found in Fermob lighting fixtures, for example. On the decor side, a number of objects and sculptures will soon be available, as well as a range of outdoor rugs. These will complement in-store items by leading names, such as Henry Dean’s mouth-blown recycled glass vases, a favorite of La Gazette Mag, or the imposing natural wax candles by Belgian company Mon Dada, which employs 100% women.
A one-stop shop in Mauritius
The Pinpoint Business Park in Calebasses is the place to go for advice from professional decorators and interior designers. Bringing together as many brands as possible under one roof, the site is dedicated to architects, decorators, construction professionals and real estate developers, hoteliers… as well as private individuals in search of ideas and solutions.
Among the suppliers present, Décosoleil has been serving its customers in Mauritius for more than two decades, adorning both indoor and outdoor spaces with high-quality acrylic fabrics in an almost infinite choice of colors and patterns. The local team is made up of five people, and Émilie welcomes you to the spacious showroom, where she can give you expert advice. Several collections are on offer, including canvases by American brand Sunbrella, for which the company is the exclusive retailer. In this large space, there is little furniture, but a large number of color charts and large-format fabric samples, allowing you to better visualize the result. Dedicated to upholstery, cushions, drapes, veils, rugs or shade blinds… all fabrics are guaranteed for 5 years against UV, stains and mildew, and are bleach-resistant, “simply because they are dyed before they are spun”. Waterproof, some are even treated to reduce heat, saving up to 16°. Allow four to six weeks to cover a sofa, and around two weeks for a bean bag or cushions. Two new collections, with different weights and weaves, are presented to me, and Émilie tells me that the European range is in stock, much to the delight of our customers. I also discover a very nice ecological and circular selection, as it recycles unused yarns. A little more expensive but beautifully crafted, these fabrics are the result of painstaking craftsmanship and meet eco-responsible standards, with no chemicals involved in the process. Décosoleil works with professional upholsterers, all based in the Hauts.
I continue my quest for new products at Euphoriaa store dedicated to interior and exterior decoration and furnishings, which left the Mont Choisy Mall over a year ago to set up shop at Pinpoint. Aurélie takes me on an exclusive tour of some of her latest pieces: a huge round outdoor table in stone fiber (for a natural look), with an imposing rounded base topped by a beautiful 160 cm diameter top, accompanied by teak chairs in black or natural tones, all curved and rounded… corroborating the season’s trend. The showroom is pleasant and well-appointed, with a selection of original accessories. A quick tour of Charabiawhere I’m greeted by the bubbly store manager. Now located in the St Pierre-Moka industrial zone, the decorating chain has a brand new 500 m2. Dedicated to both indoor and outdoor furnishings, Charabia offers a range of tapestries by famous names and top-of-the-range decorative fabrics, mainly from Europe, South Africa and Thailand. Many hotels and companies have turned to this subsidiary of Associated Textiles Services Ltd, the leading supplier and manufacturer of household linen in Mauritius. Formerly Indoor & Outdoor Living, Charabia has over 20 years’ experience in the local market. In the same place, I find some of the luminaires from Metalite, inspired by the great international designers. Respectful of the environment, this expert lighting brand has prioritized the durability of its products since its creation in 2006: aluminum, cement, resin, glass, wood… and works with a host of architects and decorators – in Mauritius and the far reaches of the Indian Ocean. At Raymarkor the art of living in the tropics, the materials offered – teak, synthetic rattan, sling, aluminum, polypropylene – are both aesthetically pleasing and hard-wearing, to suit the island’s tropical climate, bursting with sun, wind, rain and humidity. You’ll be seduced by saffron, brick… or more acidic shades. Raymark has been supplying hotels and other establishments with furniture, parasols, deckchairs and hammocks for over ten years, and also sells billiards and foosball tables. Specializing in the design of bean bagsbean bags, poufs, pear-shaped armchairs, pool mattresses… Cozy bag offers a range of models, colors and sizes (up to XXL) that combine comfort, style and durability. High-quality textiles are chosen for their comfort, breathability, elegance, waterproofing and affordability.
Around Grand Baie, the list of addresses is long, so to unearth the nugget, modulate your spaces, arrange your terraces… plan your tour and succumb to your desires! Among others, visit Macumba, founded and directed by Catherine Giraud. A pioneer in the Mauritius decorating scene, with a presence spanning three decades, l’incontournable offers pieces in limited numbers that give contemporary, standardized spaces a real identity. On its side, Moodesignnow installed in its showroom at The Vale, on the banks of the M2, displays its indoor/outdoor furniture, as well as a selection of outdoor lighting, decorative items, tableware, candles… in a bright, glassed-in space. Charming Anne-Sophie welcomes you with a smile to this place where teak is still in vogue! In terms of recent arrivals, you’ll find sets comprising one, two or three-seater armchairs in two very different models: Bern, in black fabric, and Design, in white upholstery. A selection of very contemporary solar lamps, in all sizes and… in stock. A charming little side table, round and original, because it too is solar-powered.
Our architects of tomorrow
With little or no transition, this month I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at the players at the heart of the construction, rehabilitation and adaptation of landscapes and public or private buildings, for professional, industrial, commercial or residential use… The architect’s role is to meet the expectations of each user, while ensuring that the collective interest is respected.
At ENSA Nantes-Mauritius, Mauritian and French lecturers with a wealth of diverse expertise feed into each of the students’ architectural projects (which are at the heart of the course). Every semester we explore a variety of themes that stimulate our creativity,” Tom Girard, a student in the Bachelor 3 – Architecture & Urbanism program, tells me. Study trips to India or Madagascar introduce us to an understanding of global architecture, while local projects in Mauritius anchor our thinking in the concrete realities of the island, preparing us for our role as tomorrow’s architects”.
I then ask him about the integration of the multiculturalism of our territory, on the borders of Africa, Asia and Europe, into these local projects. “On the island, multiculturalism is an asset, but in architecture, this diversity is lost in the omnipresence of concrete, which is easy to source and relatively inexpensive. “Although I’m a neophyte, like many others I’ve noticed that not only are the designs very concrete, but they’re also resolutely Europeanized. How, then, are we to exploit this multi-ethnic wealth? “In summer, it’s hot and air conditioning replaces natural ventilation. The island could draw inspiration from the techniques of countries with similar climates, such as India or Southeast Asia, using materials like terracotta or bamboo, and incorporating bioclimatic features. My trip to Chennai, which focused on traditional and vernacular architectural techniques, made me aware of the importance of local know-how in the choice of materials and their functionality. “Faced with cement and breeze blocks, which consume a lot of energy, it’s best to opt for natural elements with high thermal inertia (and therefore good insulation) that keep the air cool, such as wood, stone, bricks, straw and certain types of concrete… For Tom, “theemergence of local, renewable building materials could be a solution”.
Another conceptual path, in line with the fundamental principles of health and well-being, biophilic architecture introduces (the notion of) nature into living and working spaces. Emmanuel Marchand, aMaster’s studentin Architecture & Urban Planning, sheds some light on the subject: “Responding to the innate need to connect with the natural environment, this approach enriches spaces with a sensory dimension, stimulating the senses. Natural materials such as wood and stone encourage touch, while light and shade create changing atmospheres. The architects combine living plants, gardens and scents to offer an immersive and nourishing experience. In Mauritius, this vision finds strong expression. Interior gardens, green walls and green roofs blend harmoniously into the landscape, inspiring serenity and well-being. The Institut Français de Maurice in Rose Hill, designed by Gaetan Siew, is a living example of this soothing, sensory architecture.
Sustainable architecture, in the broadest sense of the term, takes into account the interaction between climate and ecosystem, promotes the integration of the environment into construction (and vice versa), and advocates projects that counteract energy-intensive production. Butwhy hasn’t it been fully integrated into local practices in all four corners of the island? To answer my question, Fatima Martin, consultant in Permaculture, Bio-climatic design and Natural Materials Construction There is certainly a general interest in finding more sustainable alternatives. In my opinion, resistance and reluctance are based on two factors: cyclonic conditions and the availability of materials, due to insularity. The key point towards transition would be, on the one hand, technical research, to guarantee the validity of new solutions against cyclones, heavy rains, etc., and on the other hand, the development of new economic models for the construction sector, focused on local needs and renewable materials.”
Let’s hope that in their future missions, our promoters, builders and other operators in the construction industry, progressively inclined to commit themselves to environmental and social concerns , will give rise to a Mauritian architectural culture!
