Site Positioning as Make-or-Break Decision

"It also highlighted Sol’s talent for and obsession with siting his buildings in exactly the right spot. In this case, as you arrived at the hotel, the view through the long lobby was straight onto the bluest stretch of ocean water along the beach. A few metres one way or the other, and the view would not have been that good."

"Sol knew that you could not move a building once it was built, so it was crucial to get the important parts in exactly the right spot to maximise the impact, particularly upon arrival. This was not something you could figure out on a piece of paper."

"The Beacon Isle was the first of its kind in the world of tourism – and, due to its unique placement on a rock against one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world, it could never be copied. The size and shape of the building contrasted spectacularly with the natural setting that it bisected. Whether from the Robberg Peninsula to the west or the mountain road to the east, the Beacon Isle stood out, a gleaming piece of modern art in an exquisite seascape setting. The striking design was not confined to the exterior. Inside, the floor-to-ceiling atrium was replete with live palm trees that waved gently in the breeze. The floor glistened with aqua-blue glass tiles. The slightly uneven beach-coloured walls of the balcony walkways to the hotel rooms curved around the lobby like an elegant, multitiered cake. As much as people were impressed by the striking building from the outside, the interior took their breath away when they entered through the sliding glass doors for the first time. South Africans were proud to say that this unique building had been created by one of their own, and everybody wanted to see it. Not only were December and January fully booked, but full occupancy soon extended to the rest of the year. The success of the Beacon Isle was secured."