After three years of work, the new autonomous eco-lodge at the volcano has just been delivered and will welcome its first guests on November 15. Preview visit.
The bet was met: after three years of work and more than nine million euros injected, the autonomous eco-lodge of the volcano has emerged from the ground. To the delight of tourists who are already noticing its bold lines and glowing colors.
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“I immediately saw the Gergovie Plateau Museum again. It’s the same architecture, it’s the same building. I said to myself: “Hey, we’re in Auvergne!”. I like it a lot!” enthuses Jean-Christophe, on vacation on the island.
Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:
The new volcano lodge opens its doors soon
Inside, lounges, a large reception room and more than 100 beds, from dormitories to double rooms. With, for buildings and furnishings, great demands in the choice of materials used.
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“We have materials that we wanted to use such as Corten steel, which has the particularity of having a rusty brown color which directly echoes the volcano” illustrates Julien Germhen, the architect of the project.
“We also have cryptomeria, which is local wood from the forests that we crossed to get here, which we put on the facade but also for the furniture in the rooms”he emphasizes.
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A pride for the community which supports the departmental lodges. “This new volcano deposit is a remarkable feat”welcomes Cyrille Melchior, the president of the Departmental Council. “An architectural and environmental feat and the reception conditions for all visitors will be exceptional.”
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“Reunion deserved this accommodation.”
Cyrille Melchior, president of the Department
The old lodge will gradually be dismantled. A page is turning for Yves Picard, the historic gîte of Piton de la Fournaise, who will manage the new establishment.
“I worked well and I liked the old gîte, but we could no longer work like that, with increasingly demanding clients. And we needed additional capacity”recognizes the manager.
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“When I think about it all… Everyone has a nostalgia for something, but we have to evolve” accepts Yves Picard, delighted to be able to continue the adventure on this remarkable site.
New emblem of Hauts tourism, the autonomous eco-lodge of the volcano will open its doors on November 15. But for those with less foresight, you will probably have to wait before spending your first night there: almost all the rooms are already booked until the end of the year.
