Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau
In the evolving landscape of African hospitality, the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau emerges as a defining landmark—both for the city of Abidjan and for the broader ambitions of the Mangalis Hotel Group. As the fourth addition to the Noom portfolio, this project represents a new generation of design-forward. These African-centric destinations celebrate their unique contexts and establish a global benchmark for luxury and service.
SAOTA, with its deep-rooted relationship with Teyliom Hospitality, whom SAOTA had previously designed the Dakar Radisson Blu for, is the parent company behind both the operator, Mangalis—was the natural choice to bring this vision to life. Having already designed three hotels under the Noom brand, SAOTA’s intimate understanding of the brand’s ethos and the client’s broader objectives provided the foundation for a project that seeks to redefine hospitality in West Africa.
The heart of this vision is creating destinations that resonate on multiple levels. Noom’s hotels are not just places to stay; they are vibrant hubs that draw international visitors and residents, blending the cosmopolitan and culturally rooted. The Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau, situated on a prime site overlooking the Ébrié Lagoon in the Plateau region of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, encapsulates this duality. It is a modern urban resort synthesising local inspiration and global standards.
In Abidjan, a city with a rich architectural heritage that spans from colonial-era buildings to the modernist structures of the post-independence period, the challenge for SAOTA was to create a design that would both stand out and fit in. The Plateau region’s mix of commercial and residential blocks offered a context that demanded sensitivity and innovation. The brief was ambitious: to transform a five-storey low-rise concept into a 22-storey tower on a constrained urban site.
The resulting design is a testament to SAOTA’s ability to balance form and function to create iconic and practical buildings. The tower’s striking silhouette is not just a response to the site’s physical constraints but also a deliberate effort to establish a new landmark within the urban fabric of Abidjan. Its height and design command attention, making it a focal point in the city’s skyline.
However, the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau is more than just a tall building. It is a carefully crafted space to embody the client’s goal of creating hotels deeply rooted in their cultural and design contexts. The façade, with its dynamic interplay of materials and forms, draws on local craft traditions—textiles, ceramics, and other artisanal practices—while integrating them into a contemporary architectural language with universal appeal.
The hotel offers a layered experience that unfolds as guests move through the space. The dramatic triple-volume entry sets the tone, leading to a multi-purpose conference podium and an entertainment area with expansive food-and-beverage spaces, a terrace, and a world-class pool. The accommodation—rooms, suites, and apartments—is housed within the compact tower, each designed to offer comfort and a sense of place.
One of the design’s most distinctive features is the restaurant’s strategic placement on the 7th and 22nd floors. This decision was not merely functional but also symbolic, maximising the hotel’s vantage points onto the lagoon and offering guests unparalleled views as they dine or relax by the pool. In these moments, the architecture and the landscape come together, revealing the true essence of the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau.
For developers, operators, and owners in the hospitality sector, the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau offers a compelling case study on the power of design to elevate brand identity and guest experience. SAOTA’s work on this project demonstrates a deep understanding of how architecture can shape not just a building but the very identity of a place. In a region where few truly five-star, design-driven hospitality brands exist, the Noom Hotel sets a new standard that is as much about celebrating local culture as it is about competing on a global stage.
As SAOTA releases this story, accompanied by photographs that capture the hotel’s unique presence in Abidjan’s skyline, it is clear that the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau is more than just another project. It is a statement of intent—a signal to the world that West Africa is ready to redefine the parameters of luxury and design in hospitality. Through this work, SAOTA positions itself not just as an architectural practice but as a trusted partner for those looking to create spaces that resonate locally and globally.