Place-driven hospitality begins with understanding what makes a destination distinctive — its history, culture, landscape and the stories that belong to it.
Placemaking is central to Design Partnership’s approach, serving as a method to strengthen the bond between people and shared spaces by shaping cultural and social identity.
Our storytelling uses human-centred elements to connect deeply with a location’s heritage, ensuring each design feels like a natural extension of its setting.
Whether a restaurant, home, or hotel, the goal is to celebrate what makes each place unique and foster a sense of familiarity for both guests and the local community.
Project Case Study: Blue Marlin
The Blue Marlin restaurant at Beachcomber Paradis in Le Morne, Mauritius, weaves the heritage of the place into every detail.
The reef off of Le Morne Peninsula has historically been a home for large game fish and most notably the Blue Marlin.
The resort is over 70 years old, and the main jetty was historically used by fishermen to weigh their catch. A place filled with memories of a crowd running on the jetty, welcoming the anglers while impatiently waiting for the exciting stories of the days catch.
The restaurant’s connection to this vibrant history waned over time, turning the space into a generic à la carte dining area similar to those found at any other resort.
Recognising this disconnect, Design Partnership began to weave the area’s heritage back into the restaurant’s fabric, an opportunity to not only revive its relevance, but to use it as a story-telling device to create a unique brand narrative for the restaurant.
Inspiration from the Blue Marlin
The iconic Blue Marlin, often known as an aggressive hunter that lives in solitude, served as both a physical and metaphorical inspiration for our design.
The carpentry and timber furniture feature bent and smoothed edges, evoking the sensation of water gliding over the fish’s back. The concept of scales is reflected in various design elements, such as the curved arches at the main entrance, the wine display cabinets, and the carved-out nooks.
The suspended art installations resemble the Blue Marlin rippling through water, with pools of silver, white, and blue floating overhead. The fierce thrashing of predator and prey is captured in a layered installation of colliding forms and fabrics in the foyer.
Every detail at the Blue Marlin, from the selection of colours and materials to the architectural forms, furniture, and local art, was meticulously chosen to weave a cohesive and compelling narrative.
The restaurant re-establishes its identity as a unique, culturally significant dining destination.
The Blue Marlin Restaurant was honoured with the Best Hotel Restaurant award at the International Property Awards 2024, solidifying its status as a premier dining destination.