The start of demolition work on an iconic Tunisian hotel has sparked strong opposition from citizens, architects, NGOs and heritage experts in the North African country and around the world.

Hotel du Lac, located in the capital Tunis, was built in 1973 by Italian architect Raffaele Contigiani.

It is considered a masterpiece of Brutalism, an architectural style that emerged in the middle of the 20th century and is characterised by monumental, unadorned forms magnifying the use of industrial materials with a functionalist aesthetic and social message.

Recognisable by its inverted pyramid structure, the hotel is said to have inspired the creators of the cult film saga Star Wars - some scenes of which were filmed in Tunisia - for the design of a spaceship.