A skyscraper project has recently come to light that has been around the world a few times, until it found its location in Africa, specifically in the archipelago of Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is the Zanzibar Domino Commercial Tower, which is thought to be the second tallest tower on the African continent, after Egypt’s Iconic Tower, currently under construction in the country’s New Administrative Capital. Indeed, the Domino Tower was initially developed for a site in Saudi Arabia and then in Vietnam. But, as Jean-Paul Cassia, founder of xCassia, the architectural firm responsible for the design, explains, “both locations proved inconclusive however, due to height, budget, marine and infrastructure constraints“. Now, after xCassia signed a contract with the Tanzanian AICL Group and Edinburgh Crowland Management Ltd. on 24th August, the future of the Zanzibar Domino Commercial Tower looks bright.
The tower forms part of a larger master plan, a 20-hectare, 4km-long tourist destination, with leisure and entertainment facilities, shopping and residential areas, plus an island golf resort and a wedding centre on a private islet, all connected by bridges over the sea. The “dominoes” that make up the mixed-use Zanzibar Domino Commercial Tower will house 560 residential units, plus a 360-key, 5- and 6-star hotel and spa, on an impressive 370,000 sqm of available space.
At an estimated cost of €1.1 billion ($1.3 billion), the tower will be built on an artificial island off the west coast of Zanzibar. “In its internal mathematical order and geometry, which it takes from nature, and the pure lines and proportions that evoke growth, progress and freedom, it has all the elements of an icon that anyone can remember and draw on a paper napkin. Youssef S. Amour, CEO of AICL Group, concludes: it is “one of Africa’s first truly iconic global destinations for tourism, entertainment, culture and conferences, which will offer visitors, residents and businesses a multi-faceted programme (…), professional itineraries and year-round investment opportunities“. Hopefully this will be the case and we will be able to see the spectacular, beautiful building on the shores of Tanzania.
