AN 4 BED LUXURY BOUTIQUE LODGE HOUSE SET IN THE ELEPHANT POINT ESTATE, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, MPUMALANGA, SOUTH AFRICA.

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A CLIENT DRIVEN BY HIS PASSION FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA AND HIS PHILATHROPIC WORK BOTH IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BOTSWANA, THE BRIEF IN HIS MIND WAS CLEAR. PROVIDE A HOME SET IN THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN BUSH THAT HE CAN OPEN TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SHARE IN THE EXPERIENCES THIS GREAT PART OF THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. FURTHER, THE HOUSE WAS TO HAVE A STRONG SENCES OF PLACE AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN ITS CREATION AND ONGOING OPERATIONS.

 

​THE HOUSE SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE SABIE RIVER WITH VIEW TO THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.  THE CONCEPT IS FORMED FROM THE TRIBUTARIES THAT FLOW INTO THE SABIE RIVER, CUTTING SWALES AND DEEP CHANNELS IN THE SAND AND ROCK OF THE AREA. THE OPENINGS FORMED BETWEEN THE EARTH AS THE WATER CUTS ITS WAY THROUGH, LEAVES SOLIDS AND VOIDS IN ITS WAKE. THE THICK WALLS OF RAMMED EARTH BRING THE SOILS - CUT AWAY BY THESE RIVERS - INTO THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSE. THE MATERIALS ARE RAW AND PRIMITAVE, THE BUILDING CONTEMPORARY. THE SOLID AND ENCLOSED BRINGS COMFORT AND PROTECTION, THE OPEN BRINGS A LINK TO NATURE, A CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE, AND THE EXCITEMENT AND DANGER THAT HIDES WITHIN THE NATURAL BUSHLAND BEYOND.

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​LOCATION: ELEPHANT POINT, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, MPUMALANGA, SOUTH AFRICA

YEAR (COMPLETION): 2020

OWNER: PRIVATE

COLLABORATION: STUDIO ASAI

PHOTOGRAPHY: DURAN BEZUIDENHOUT