Palace of the Lost City

Palace of the Lost City
Name	Palace of the Lost City
Location	Sun City, North West, South Africa
Architect	Stanley Bergman
Client	Sol Kerzner
Completion	1992

Palace of the Lost City is a luxury resort located in Sun City, North West, South Africa, and is owned by Sol Kerzner's company, Sun International. The resort was designed by Stanley Bergman and features an Ancient Greek and Roman-inspired architecture, with influences from African and Asian cultures, as seen in the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei. The Palace of the Lost City is situated near the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and the Valley of Waves, and is a popular destination for tourists and travelers, including those visiting Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. The resort has been featured in various publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Forbes, and has been compared to other luxury resorts, such as The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, and The Fairmont in Banff, Alberta.

Introduction

The Palace of the Lost City is a prominent example of Postmodern architecture, with its unique blend of Classical architecture and African architecture, as seen in the works of Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer. The resort's design was influenced by the Lost City of Atlantis, as described by Plato in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and features a range of Luxury goods and services, including Fine dining restaurants, such as Le Bernardin and Per Se, and Spa facilities, such as those found at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa and Miraval Resort & Spa. The Palace of the Lost City has hosted various events and conferences, including the Miss World pageant, and has been visited by numerous celebrities, including Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, and Elton John, who have also visited other notable destinations, such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, and The Vatican.

Architecture

The Palace of the Lost City's architecture is characterized by its use of Doric order columns, Arches, and Domes, as seen in the works of Andrea Palladio and Christopher Wren. The resort's design was inspired by the Architecture of ancient Greece and Roman architecture, with influences from African architecture and Asian architecture, as seen in the works of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. The Palace of the Lost City features a range of Sculptures and Mosaics, including works by Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso, and has been compared to other notable buildings, such as the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. The resort's architecture has been praised by Architectural critics, including Paul Goldberger and Ada Louise Huxtable, who have also written about other notable buildings, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

History

The Palace of the Lost City was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the Apartheid era in South Africa, and was officially opened in 1992 by Sol Kerzner and Nelson Mandela. The resort was designed to be a luxury destination for tourists and travelers, and features a range of Luxury goods and services, including Fine dining restaurants, such as Le Cirque and The French Laundry, and Spa facilities, such as those found at The Ritz-Carlton and The Four Seasons. The Palace of the Lost City has hosted various events and conferences, including the Miss World pageant, and has been visited by numerous celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Elton John, who have also visited other notable destinations, such as The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, and The Great Wall of China.

Features

The Palace of the Lost City features a range of Luxury goods and services, including Fine dining restaurants, such as Per Se and Le Bernardin, and Spa facilities, such as those found at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa and Miraval Resort & Spa. The resort also features a range of Recreational activities, including Golf courses, such as Pebble Beach Golf Links and St Andrews Links, and Water sports, such as Surfing and Scuba diving, as well as Casino facilities, such as those found at The Bellagio and The Venetian. The Palace of the Lost City is situated near the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and the Valley of Waves, and offers a range of Safari and Wildlife experiences, including Game drives and Bushwalks, as seen in the works of David Attenborough and Jacques Cousteau.

Tourism and Reception

The Palace of the Lost City is a popular destination for tourists and travelers, including those visiting Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. The resort has been featured in various publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Forbes, and has been praised for its unique architecture and luxury amenities, as seen in the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei. The Palace of the Lost City has hosted various events and conferences, including the Miss World pageant, and has been visited by numerous celebrities, including Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, and Elton John, who have also visited other notable destinations, such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, and The Vatican. The resort has also been recognized for its commitment to Sustainability and Environmental conservation, as seen in the works of Al Gore and Jane Goodall.

Design and Construction

The Palace of the Lost City was designed by Stanley Bergman and features an Ancient Greek and Roman-inspired architecture, with influences from African and Asian cultures, as seen in the works of Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer. The resort's design was influenced by the Lost City of Atlantis, as described by Plato in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias, and features a range of Luxury goods and services, including Fine dining restaurants, such as Le Cirque and The French Laundry, and Spa facilities, such as those found at The Ritz-Carlton and The Four Seasons. The Palace of the Lost City was built using a range of Building materials, including Marble, Granite, and Sandstone, and features a range of Sculptures and Mosaics, including works by Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso, as well as Landscape architecture by Frederick Law Olmsted and André Le Nôtre. The resort's construction was managed by Sol Kerzner's company, Sun International, and was completed in 1992, with a total cost of over USD 1 billion, as reported by Bloomberg and Forbes.

Category:Buildings and structures in South Africa