Like a giant prop from a Steven Spielberg movie, with the aesthetics and ambience of a building that could have accommodated legends like Lord Lugard and Hebert Macaulay, The Apprentice Africa House stands as tall; an architectural songbird, welcoming visitors with nostalgic lullabies from the colonial years when the homes of the European aristocrats were designed like recreational parks. Lavishly so styled, it testifies to the class, sophistication, and glamour that will herald, and influence the lifestyle of eighteen intelligent business-minded ladies and gentlemen from all over Africa for a period of eighteen weeks.
The colour scheme of this house is instantly arresting: every shade of each color is as symbolic as its tones and patterns. For instance, the fluorescent tone of the white walls that form the perimeter fence, combined with the brave brown strokes used on the fence-pillars, paint a poetic picture of the fusion of brilliance and bravado. The fluorescent white reinforces the relevance of a clean and brilliant image in a competitive business environment, while the brave brown pillars attest to the bravado and doggedness required in building a solid business.
The house itself is painted with a combination of two spectacular shades of brown. The lighter shade adorns the walls, while the deeper shade is used to coat the window panes, balcony rails, and pillars. The roofing sheets are sea weed green, so that the house cohabitates easily with the beautiful green flora around the premises.
Then you go in. From the entrance, the opaque glass walls, and doors usher you into the building, and the first sight that meets you is the neatly coated stonewall of what looks like a waiting room. Turning to your right, you encounter the dreaded board room, coated with the most alluring orange and brown paints, striking a chord of serious business in a bold and dynamic environment.
According to the Locations Manager, the contestants are to wait in the reception area, before they enter for their regular battles in the board room. Considering the sharp contrast in textural tonalities, being in the boardroom may as well suspend any fantasy the contestants may have created from the castle-like hospitality in every other part of this facility. On the right side of the boardroom lies a door to the living room area, its mood enhancing blue walls and wood-polished dining furniture posing as the perfect place to unwind after a “firing” session.
It must be mentioned that every piece of furniture was chosen to accommodate the lifestyles of its intended residents who come from a diverse blend of European, American, and African backgrounds.
The balcony welcomes you to the most breathtaking view, as the fingers of the gentle sea side breeze reinvigorate the creative muse. The activities going on at the swimming pool area and the volleyball court can all be savored from this view. From here the lawn and flowers take the shape of a horticultural garden designed by a romantic florist.
On the concept behind the European/colonial era design, the Project Manager responds, “We wanted something comfortable and befitting for the apprentices who as professionals, business people, or corporate executives are accustomed to the finer things- so we came up with something classy and modern and at the same time very unique to the African experience and business evolution”. She goes on to state that the theme of The Apprentice Africa House was conceptualized to creatively reflect the philosophy of the project on television. She promises that the interior of this house will be given the most thought-provoking African touch by exhibiting the most spectacular paintings and sculptures from seasoned African artists in the rooms and hall ways; while using indigenous African fabrics for the soft furnishings.
This much is true of the TAA house, every stone was carefully thought of, each color scheme a revelation as well as a tone-setter. Speaking to the contestants: willing them to be as vibrant and daring as the colour scheme, as stocky and brave as the pillars, and as brilliant, graceful, and progressive as the beautiful budding flowers in this beauteous mansion. You are where you live.
LIVING QUARTERS
Female Room 1
The floors are made of interlocking wooden tiles; the walls are coated with very sensual pink colours; and the six single beds have the same unique sea-wave curvy design with colors worth yearning for. There are large wardrobes in this room. The air-conditioning system can transform this room from summer to winter with the push of a button - and the bathrooms compete with five star hotels. This particular room has been designed to house six female contestants, with a little more room for the usual girlie baggage.
Female Room 2 shares the same design with ROOM 1, but with three single beds, it has been designed to accommodate three female contestants.
Male Room
To get here, you pass through a lounge with beautiful Aloe-Vera green colors, earmarked to be a meeting place where the contestants get to strategize and pick each other’s brains. The Male Room is fitted with 4 double bunk beds (of the same design with the beds in the Female Rooms). The walls here are of two harmonious shades of blue. The air-conditioning works perfectly here too. The bathroom is neat and very masculine. |
