A Harmonious Blend of History, Culture, and Design

When Farouki Design was tasked with shaping the interior of Hotel Indigo in Grand Cayman, their goal was clear: to craft a design that authentically reflected the island’s unique history, culture, and environment.

Inspiration in Abundance

According to Sabri Farouki of Farouki Farouki architecture firm, the inspiration for the project was rooted in the “neighborhood story,” a core concept for the Hotel Indigo brand. Farouki shares, “We made sure that all of the design narratives stemmed from the history, land, and culture of Grand Cayman.”

One of the early inspirations was a 1958 aerial photograph of the hotel site, which was then a lush mangrove forest. Farouki’s team saw this as the foundation for the design concept. “We developed a concept of the hotel as a handmade hideaway within a lush forest of tropical plants,” Farouki explains.

The result is an interior that embraces natural materials, artisan wooden millwork, and tropical colors, creating spaces that blend harmoniously with the environment. Woven elements within the light fixtures and furniture reflect the local tradition of weaving silver thatch palm leaves, a nod to the island's early settlers and their resourcefulness.

Farouki also highlights how a drive around Grand Cayman inspired the team. “We were excited to see playful patterns on vernacular architecture and fences.” These patterns became part of the design’s “modern illustrator” concept, infusing simple, bold shapes into the furniture, lighting, and artwork.

The geological beauty of the island also influenced the design, with the local Caymanite stone—featuring warm whites, rusty reds, oranges, and browns—providing the base color palette for the guest rooms. A prominent mural in the hotel showcases Grand Cayman’s underwater topography, further connecting the design to the natural surroundings.

Concrete as a Durable and Design-Savvy Solution

Concrete played a crucial role in fulfilling the vision for Hotel Indigo. Farouki notes that the materials used in the project needed to be both “natural, raw, and elemental” while standing up to the open, tropical environment. The color palette may be playful, but durability was essential, especially in the bathrooms. That’s where Trueform Concrete came in.

“We found Trueform by searching online,” Farouki recalls. “They had exactly the expertise we were looking for, which was the ability to produce commercial, custom, precast concrete vanities with multiple basins.”

Trueform not only delivered the custom concrete vanities but also provided detailed shop drawings and design expertise, ensuring that the concealed drains would work as intended. Farouki praises the results, saying, “It turned out great!”

 

Paul Grech, Creative Director at Trueform, reflects on the project, “measuring 183” x 28” with a 7” apron, this is a big, bold sink. We had to create four custom 20” x 16” molds for the oversized, integrated basins - which fill the large deck quite nicely.”

But it’s the color that really makes this a statement piece. Farouki Farouki specified a Benjamin Moore color (Gilded Ballroom, CSP-980), and the Trueform team matched it.

“Once all the details were sorted out, we cast the entire sink as a single, seamless piece. Seeing it in the context of this completed, artfully-choreographed space brings us great joy,” says Grech. “Being able to work with A&D partners at this level of creativity is both humbling and exciting.”

This type of bespoke fabrication highlights exactly why concrete is such a meaningful design medium. And the Hotel Indigo project overall is the epitome of why Trueform loves what they do.

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on the project, Farouki is satisfied with the outcome, highlighting how the collaboration with Trueform and the overall design concept brought the essence of Grand Cayman into the hotel. It’s a space where history, nature, and modern design come together seamlessly.

The project at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman is a vivid example of how thoughtful design and an adaptable material can draw from local culture and environment to create something timeless yet modern. As Farouki puts it, “The design celebrates the island's early locals’ creative use of available resources and materials,” an ethos that shaped every aspect of this tropical retreat.

 

For a complete visual journey of this extensive project, visit Farouki Farouki’s gallery.

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