Since yesterday, Friday, August 15, alarming news has been circulating on social networks with regard to the Lac Hotel in Tunis.
The architect and university teacher Amira Belhaj Hlali thus affirmed In a post abundantly relayed that the demolition work of the Hotel du Lac started on August 15.
Following this publication, the Medina’s safeguarding association of Tunis (ASM) challenged opinion by regretting the “speculative frenzy” and by calling for mobilization to save this exceptional building.
Moving on the ground, an ASM architect noted work in progress and no signage as to the precise nature of this work.
For his part, Amel Meddeb, also an architect and deputy in the assembly of representatives of the people, called to demonstrate at the beginning of next week, while alerting the National Institute of Heritage and the Schools of Architecture and Urban Planning.
On another level, the animators of the Harissaland group called to preserve this building to set up “a center for young Tunisian creatives”. This group recommends dedicating this building to the accommodation of two hundred startups thanks to national crowfunding.
However, the initial question remains: will the Lac Hotel be demolished from this week? According to the buyers of this emblematic construction of Tunis in the 1970s, there is no demolition project in progress. The work that is envisaged and have not yet started concern only the interior spaces. The general structure of the building should be fully respected while the interior spaces will be renovated.
What really really? The fact is that almost no display is made close to the site of this intervention. However, this advertisement is a legal requirement. On the other hand, for a few weeks as Weened, a metal palisade has been installed around the site.
Read also: Tunis – Hotel du Lac: It finally moves but in what direction?
Defended by civil society for several years, taken up by a new investor, the Hotel du Lac does not leave indifferent. Its inverted pyramid -shaped structure and its brutalist aspect make it a rare architectural work that we owe to Raffaele Contigiani, a world -renowned Italian architect.
A case to follow while waiting for the mobilization to which civil society invites to save the Hotel du Lac and, if it is really the case, avoid its outright demolition.
