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Doubletree By Hilton Addis Ababa Haya Hulet Hotel & Spa
Doubletree By Hilton Addis Ababa Haya Hulet Hotel & Spa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Other Projects by Bentel Associates International
Doubletree By Hilton Addis Ababa Haya Hulet Hotel & Spa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Type
STATUS
Under Construction
YEAR
2026
DESIGN BRIEF AND SITE CONSIDERATIONS.
The brief from the client was to create a new Doubletree by Hilton hotel within an existing high-rise concrete structure. The existing structure, was previously designed to incorporate a mixed-used development and has now been reconfigured to accommodate a 159 key 4-star hotel. The Doubletree hotel is designed to be a modern business hotel while catering for families within a luxury urban environment. The hotel is due to open in March 2026.
The site is extremely complex and restricted, with large high-rise buildings surrounding the site in addition to a busy intersection along the main facade. A small courtyard breathing some much-needed space is created within the centre of the site allowing the ground floor to flow out onto a landscape terrace and provide a tiny oasis within this urban development.
Façade:
This corner of the building is the main feature of the design. One approaches the building from this angle while driving up Equatorial Guinea street. The Main façade is glazed throughout with an aluminium ribbon elegantly weaving to divide the façade and playfully defining the public and guestroom levels while creating a feature lighting element. The 6th and 17th floors have vertical cladding sitting proud of the curtain wall system providing privacy for those facilities. Colourful fins dramatically run the length of the façade and project from the glazed façade to highlight the verticality of the design. The new lift shafts on the east façade are cladded in aluminium panels which run the full extent of the building and wrap over the 18th floor to create an enclosed bar which leads out onto the outdoor terrace.
LOCATION:
The site is situated on the busy Equatorial Guinea street, which is a main arterial route through Addis Ababa. Equatorial Guinea street consists of a 6-lane road split in the middle by a working tram. The back of the site is adjacent to a local road which allows for vehicular access to the site.
The site is a 20min drive from the Addis Ababa international airport and a 15min drive to the Adey Abeba National Stadium.
The building is very visible upon approach from the main Equatorial Guinea street, and the design of the building with its modern glazed front façade and façade details allows it to stand proud within its surroundings.
ARCHITECTURE AND USE OF SPACE:
The building is comprised of 3 basement levels, housing all the deliveries, back of house facilities and staff requirements. Limited parking is available within the existing structure, so a new parking structure has been designed behind the existing concrete structure which accommodates 6 levels of parking and basements for MEP services.
The Ground Floor has two main entry points. One from the main road, Equatorial Guinea street and one from the courtyard and parkade. The entrances lead into an expansive lobby lounge, Drift bar and a traditional Ethiopian coffee station. The First floor comprises All-day dining, offices and main kitchens. The entire 2nd floor is dedicated to a large membership gym and luxurious spa facilities. The guestroom levels then begin at level 3 allowing views across the city and disconnecting them from the busy city below. Spliced in amongst the guestroom levels is the Conference and meeting room facilities on the 6th floor and the Speciality restaurant on the 17th Floor. The 18th floor opens up to an outdoor terrace and links to the neighbouring residential building where the hotel pool is located.
APPEARANCE AND FINISH:
Working within an existing concrete structure has meant that one needs to work within the fixed parameters provided. The main design features are predominantly on the Southern façade which faces Equatorial Guinea street. The glazed façade was designed in a way that can be premanufactured and fixed to the existing concrete structure. This continuous glazed façade highlights the verticality of the building, again reaffirmed by the colour fins which run the extent of the façade.
The two new back of house service lifts are situated on the eastern façade which creates a solid and continuous anchoring element linking all the floors. This Lift shaft created a design opportunity for an aluminium cladding element to conceal the shaft, while wrapping over the top of the building creating an angular roof for the Terrace bar.
The back of the building has long ribbons of glazing again emphasising the height of the structure with aluminium cladding or plaster and paint infills. The 6th floor is accentuated by an additional aluminium vertical screen in front of the glazing, highlighting the conference facilities while still providing a level of privacy to that floor.
Overall, the design and material selection allow the building to stand out within its context as a new luxurious, contemporary hotel while using the materials to accentuate the height of the existing structure and verticality.
SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY, CONSERVATION AND INNOVATION:
The building has two main entry points which are security controlled as per the Hilton Brand Standards. The main entry off Equatorial Guinea street has a manned boomed entrance for vehicular access.
The parkade building has a secure entrance which is manned by the security team for vehicular access, deliveries, staff and guests arriving from the local street and into the parkade structure. By allowing one point of vehicular access, it reduces the weak points of security around the site and allows for reduced manning of the site.
The vestibules at each entrance of the building are equipped with a luggage and person scanners to ensure all guests and items are checked before entering the building.
Once a guest has passed through the vestibule checking point, you are then free to circulate into the lobby and bar areas. Electronic access control which is controlled by a building management system allows for strict access for guests and staff areas. All back of house areas will have access control which different staff will have access too. The guests will be allocated access to their rooms and public area facilities. This building management system is controlled by once central security point to ensure all access is monitored.
Once the staff have passed through the parkade entry, they then enter the building on Semi basement through a dedicated staff entrance. This staff entrance is adjacent to the security control room and CCTV Room. Once the staff have been checked, they can then proceed into the building.
All fire requirements are specified by a qualified fire consultant. The building has two main strategies for fire prevention. A Passive fire protection (PFP) where the building is compartmentalized using fire resistant rated walls, floors and doors. Dividing the larger areas into smaller fire compartments which reduces the spread of a fire and limiting structural damage. Active fire protection (AFP) requiring an intervention or action to operate. The AFP measurements used for the Doubletree by Hilton project are, Automatic Sprinkler installation; Conventional firefighting installation (such as fire hose reels and extinguishers); fire detection and alarm systems; Emergency voice and lighting systems and standby power for all life safety requirements.
The building is sprinkled throughout, except for the parkade structure which is naturally ventilated. Two sprinkler fire tanks are located in the basement levels to provide the water for the sprinkler system. Where ceiling voids are larger than 800mm void sprinklers have also been provided. Fire and acoustic doors have been allocated throughout the building where the fire and acoustic consultants have specified to meet brand and local requirements. Dry droppers are provided in the Cold and Freezer rooms, and gas suppression in the server rooms.
The building has a dedicated water treatment plant which is located in the basements to allow potable water for the building as well as a dedicated sewer treatment system to treat effluent water before entering the municipal sewer line.
Double glazing is used throughout the building to reduce noise and heat entering the building and therefore reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
The Hilton HVAC system has been designed in line with the global brand standards. The HVAC design comprises of a chilled water system coupled with fan coil units, air handling units and fresh air handling units to achieve thermal comfort within the building. Due to the capacity of cooling required, chilled water was selected to meet the building demands in a cost effective, efficient manner. Due to the dry ambient conditions, fresh air will be treated via dedicated fresh air handling units. These units will serve to filter and precool/preheat and humidify the fresh air to neutral conditions. These fresh air handling units will be located in dedicated plant rooms. Fan coil units located in ceiling voids of each hotel room will supply conditioned air to the guest rooms, front of house and back of house areas. The conference room will be served via dedicated air handling units which will cool / heat the air. Dedicated kitchen ventilation systems will be used to remove smoke, odours, gases, particles and even heat.
The brief from the client was to create a new Doubletree by Hilton hotel within an existing high-rise concrete structure. The existing structure, was previously designed to incorporate a mixed-used development and has now been reconfigured to accommodate a 159 key 4-star hotel. The Doubletree hotel is designed to be a modern business hotel while catering for families within a luxury urban environment. The hotel is due to open in March 2026.
The site is extremely complex and restricted, with large high-rise buildings surrounding the site in addition to a busy intersection along the main facade. A small courtyard breathing some much-needed space is created within the centre of the site allowing the ground floor to flow out onto a landscape terrace and provide a tiny oasis within this urban development.
Façade:
This corner of the building is the main feature of the design. One approaches the building from this angle while driving up Equatorial Guinea street. The Main façade is glazed throughout with an aluminium ribbon elegantly weaving to divide the façade and playfully defining the public and guestroom levels while creating a feature lighting element. The 6th and 17th floors have vertical cladding sitting proud of the curtain wall system providing privacy for those facilities. Colourful fins dramatically run the length of the façade and project from the glazed façade to highlight the verticality of the design. The new lift shafts on the east façade are cladded in aluminium panels which run the full extent of the building and wrap over the 18th floor to create an enclosed bar which leads out onto the outdoor terrace.
LOCATION:
The site is situated on the busy Equatorial Guinea street, which is a main arterial route through Addis Ababa. Equatorial Guinea street consists of a 6-lane road split in the middle by a working tram. The back of the site is adjacent to a local road which allows for vehicular access to the site.
The site is a 20min drive from the Addis Ababa international airport and a 15min drive to the Adey Abeba National Stadium.
The building is very visible upon approach from the main Equatorial Guinea street, and the design of the building with its modern glazed front façade and façade details allows it to stand proud within its surroundings.
ARCHITECTURE AND USE OF SPACE:
The building is comprised of 3 basement levels, housing all the deliveries, back of house facilities and staff requirements. Limited parking is available within the existing structure, so a new parking structure has been designed behind the existing concrete structure which accommodates 6 levels of parking and basements for MEP services.
The Ground Floor has two main entry points. One from the main road, Equatorial Guinea street and one from the courtyard and parkade. The entrances lead into an expansive lobby lounge, Drift bar and a traditional Ethiopian coffee station. The First floor comprises All-day dining, offices and main kitchens. The entire 2nd floor is dedicated to a large membership gym and luxurious spa facilities. The guestroom levels then begin at level 3 allowing views across the city and disconnecting them from the busy city below. Spliced in amongst the guestroom levels is the Conference and meeting room facilities on the 6th floor and the Speciality restaurant on the 17th Floor. The 18th floor opens up to an outdoor terrace and links to the neighbouring residential building where the hotel pool is located.
APPEARANCE AND FINISH:
Working within an existing concrete structure has meant that one needs to work within the fixed parameters provided. The main design features are predominantly on the Southern façade which faces Equatorial Guinea street. The glazed façade was designed in a way that can be premanufactured and fixed to the existing concrete structure. This continuous glazed façade highlights the verticality of the building, again reaffirmed by the colour fins which run the extent of the façade.
The two new back of house service lifts are situated on the eastern façade which creates a solid and continuous anchoring element linking all the floors. This Lift shaft created a design opportunity for an aluminium cladding element to conceal the shaft, while wrapping over the top of the building creating an angular roof for the Terrace bar.
The back of the building has long ribbons of glazing again emphasising the height of the structure with aluminium cladding or plaster and paint infills. The 6th floor is accentuated by an additional aluminium vertical screen in front of the glazing, highlighting the conference facilities while still providing a level of privacy to that floor.
Overall, the design and material selection allow the building to stand out within its context as a new luxurious, contemporary hotel while using the materials to accentuate the height of the existing structure and verticality.
SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY, CONSERVATION AND INNOVATION:
The building has two main entry points which are security controlled as per the Hilton Brand Standards. The main entry off Equatorial Guinea street has a manned boomed entrance for vehicular access.
The parkade building has a secure entrance which is manned by the security team for vehicular access, deliveries, staff and guests arriving from the local street and into the parkade structure. By allowing one point of vehicular access, it reduces the weak points of security around the site and allows for reduced manning of the site.
The vestibules at each entrance of the building are equipped with a luggage and person scanners to ensure all guests and items are checked before entering the building.
Once a guest has passed through the vestibule checking point, you are then free to circulate into the lobby and bar areas. Electronic access control which is controlled by a building management system allows for strict access for guests and staff areas. All back of house areas will have access control which different staff will have access too. The guests will be allocated access to their rooms and public area facilities. This building management system is controlled by once central security point to ensure all access is monitored.
Once the staff have passed through the parkade entry, they then enter the building on Semi basement through a dedicated staff entrance. This staff entrance is adjacent to the security control room and CCTV Room. Once the staff have been checked, they can then proceed into the building.
All fire requirements are specified by a qualified fire consultant. The building has two main strategies for fire prevention. A Passive fire protection (PFP) where the building is compartmentalized using fire resistant rated walls, floors and doors. Dividing the larger areas into smaller fire compartments which reduces the spread of a fire and limiting structural damage. Active fire protection (AFP) requiring an intervention or action to operate. The AFP measurements used for the Doubletree by Hilton project are, Automatic Sprinkler installation; Conventional firefighting installation (such as fire hose reels and extinguishers); fire detection and alarm systems; Emergency voice and lighting systems and standby power for all life safety requirements.
The building is sprinkled throughout, except for the parkade structure which is naturally ventilated. Two sprinkler fire tanks are located in the basement levels to provide the water for the sprinkler system. Where ceiling voids are larger than 800mm void sprinklers have also been provided. Fire and acoustic doors have been allocated throughout the building where the fire and acoustic consultants have specified to meet brand and local requirements. Dry droppers are provided in the Cold and Freezer rooms, and gas suppression in the server rooms.
The building has a dedicated water treatment plant which is located in the basements to allow potable water for the building as well as a dedicated sewer treatment system to treat effluent water before entering the municipal sewer line.
Double glazing is used throughout the building to reduce noise and heat entering the building and therefore reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
The Hilton HVAC system has been designed in line with the global brand standards. The HVAC design comprises of a chilled water system coupled with fan coil units, air handling units and fresh air handling units to achieve thermal comfort within the building. Due to the capacity of cooling required, chilled water was selected to meet the building demands in a cost effective, efficient manner. Due to the dry ambient conditions, fresh air will be treated via dedicated fresh air handling units. These units will serve to filter and precool/preheat and humidify the fresh air to neutral conditions. These fresh air handling units will be located in dedicated plant rooms. Fan coil units located in ceiling voids of each hotel room will supply conditioned air to the guest rooms, front of house and back of house areas. The conference room will be served via dedicated air handling units which will cool / heat the air. Dedicated kitchen ventilation systems will be used to remove smoke, odours, gases, particles and even heat.
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