The island of Lastavica with the Mamula fortress is being cleaned, after which the conservation and restoration of the fortress should be started, which would be turned into a five-star hotel.
Also, the lessee Swiss Orascom, is conducting active discussions with relevant institutions in charge of cultural and historical heritage in order to determine what can be done.
Renowned world architect, Portuguese Miguel Cancio Martins will be in charge of the Orascom’s Mamula project. Martins, whose MCM Design agency was hired by Orascom chairman, Samih Sawiris, says that Mamula should be preserved as much as possible, but since we are in the 21st century, we also have to add some modern influences.
He points out that it is necessary to preserve the architecture of the island as much as possible, to make minimum interventions, to take advantage of the rooms that once used to house cannons and turn them into rooms with a view, and to take advantage of all available space for the functionality of the future hotel.
According to the plans, €15m is to be invested in rehabilitation of the island and the fortress.
The island will include a five-star hotel, but also a museum that will be open to all visitors, not only to hotel guests.
Asked to describe Mamula, Martins says it is “a tiny rough diamond that needs to be polished carefully”.
