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Africa’s tallest building to be constructed in Watamu

By HILARY KIMUYU September 23rd, 2018 1 min read

Watamu beach in Malindi, Kilifi County is set to be the home of Africa’s tallest skyscraper, which, when complete, will overlook the Malindi Marine National Park.

Dubbed Palm Exotjca, the 61-storey, 370 metres building will house luxury suites and a 24-hour casino and will add to the coastal town’s clout as a luxury tourism hub.

The multi-billion shilling structure has been designed by Rome-based architect Lorenzo Pagnini. Its design is borrowed from traditional art motifs.

Its proprietors say it will cater for “the discerning travelers who appreciate life’s finer things” and will have a 270-bed hotel, shopping mall and nightclub. It will also have 180 serviced apartments, office suites, a conference center and restaurants.

The tower’s developers are a consortium of investors drawn from New York (United States), South Africa and 89-year-old Italian billionaire Franco Rosso.

START OF CONSTRUCTION

Palm Exotjca will be the sole high-rise building of its kind at the coast and a playground for all ages, personalities and choices. The project has the potential to transform Malindi into an international tourism hub.

Palm Exotjca will also be Kenya’s tallest building eclipsing 195-metre-high Britam Towers in Nairobi. It will also be taller than the 223-metre Carlton Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is currently the tallest building in Africa.

The developers have yet to set a date of when they will start construction.

In Nairobi, the ongoing construction of The Pinnacle was to be the tallest skyscraper in Africa when it is completed in 2019. The larger of twin glass-facade towers will be 300-meters tall.