Powerhouse Company has transformed a 1970s brutalist villa into Céline & Lolo, a boutique hotel in Nairobi’s Lavington neighborhood. Part hotel, part hideaway, part neighborhood bar, the project captures the feeling of returning to a house from a past holiday: sun-warmed, personal, and full of character. The former villa now brings together guest rooms, a restaurant, indoor and outdoor bars, a terrace, a pool deck, a professional kitchen, and staff quarters.
Layers of time
Originally designed in 1976 by Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik, best known for the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the split-level villa reflected the optimism and experimentation of its time. Built into a steep slope, its flat roofs, deep canopies, and suspension bridge gave the house a bold architectural identity. Later additions in the 1990s introduced a more domestic layer, including sloped roofs and staff quarters.
Powerhouse Company weaves these different architectural layers into the new hotel design. The existing house, which originally contained 9 bedrooms with very large bathrooms, has been reorganized to accommodate 18 ensuite rooms, using the stepped section to create varied room types and new balconies. Six additional guest rooms have been added in the garden. Enlarged openings bring more daylight inside, while new finishes, lighting, joinery, and bathrooms unite the building’s multiple eras under a fresh, contemporary identity.
A summer memory
The design process was guided by the ambition to preserve and enhance the villa’s strongest qualities, bring coherence to the whole, and introduce intentional focal points throughout. Designed to evoke memories of holidays along the coast, the villa’s brutalist structure is softened by interiors that feel laid-back, international, and personal, drawing on the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s.
Mediterranean references and Kenyan artisanal touches meet in a palette of warm materials, saturated colors, handcrafted details, and locally made furniture. Together with its outdoor pool and lush garden setting, Céline & Lolo creates a unique kind of hangout in the predominantly residential neighborhood of Lavington: fresh in energy, relaxed in atmosphere, and welcoming to both guests and locals.
Revealing hidden stories
The renovation uncovered parts of the building that had been hidden or underused: stone masonry appeared behind gypsum walls, and a forgotten mezzanine became part of a playful multi-level suite. These discoveries informed the design approach, prioritizing renewal over replacement.
In the restaurant, the original terrazzo floor, stone walls, fireplace, and large windows are retained, while cupboards and benches are custom-made to connect with the existing design language. Bar Lolo keeps its position close to the pool but is reworked to accommodate more people and with a richer material palette. In the entrance, library, rooms, and hallways, original wooden wainscoting, and spatial features are paired with new Mvule wood window frames and patterned tiles that underline the villa’s original 1970s character.
Each space has its own atmosphere. The entrance sets the tone with patterned floor tiles, a wooden reception desk, and a bold sofa; the library offers a quieter counterpoint, with timber wall elements and generous soft seating. The rooms continue this variation, from lofty suites with original timber ceilings to rooms with colored ceilings, rugs, upholstered chairs, and built-in desks. Bathrooms become compact, colorful interiors in Dutch Mosa tiles, while the garden rooms use softer tones and natural materials to connect more directly to the landscape and pool.
Team:
Fixed interior elements: Powerhouse Company
Furniture & Styling: C&L Founders
Landscape architect: C&L Founders
Art: Lodewijk Hissink
Contractor: Prabhu Constructions
Structural engineer: Dreambuild Engineering Co. Ltd
Installations: Juma
Building Physics and Fire: Nimrod
Technical drawings: Dreambuild Engineering Co. Ltd
Photography: Amy May Roux
