Safari Lodges
Location: Limpopo, South Africa | Year: 2021 | Category: Concept
Safari Lodges are a guest complex of residential units of a non-permanent type for a secluded and immersive recreation surrounded by the unique flora and fauna of South Africa.
Site
Safari lodges are located in Limpopo, South Africa among the archaic baobab trees that the area is well-known for, the site in mind is a flat sandy area, dotted with indigenous flora and fauna, approximately 30-40m down from the top of a ridge, looking out over a sandstone cliff which offers majestic views of an expansive valley below. The site is protected from wind and predominantly features a desert-type climate year-round.
Concept
The main task was to create guest units that will coexist in harmony with the surrounding nature and will contribute to the functional and aesthetic comfort of guests to get a unique experience in this place. To minimize the impact on the surrounding nature, the lodges are designed of a non-permanent type, they are easy to disassemble and assemble. Nature in this place is not only a visual and aesthetic dominant, but also presents specific weather conditions in the form of wind gusts up to 120 km / h, high ultraviolet radiation from the scorching sun and unexpected animals and insects. All this complex of conditions sets and forms the concept of safari lodges.
The openness of safari lodges to all sides ensures smooth transitions from indoors to outdoors and incorporate the unique views and natural elements of the site in the guest experience.
Structure
Each safari lodge is a two-level prefabricated frame residential unit designed to accommodate 2 people. To simplify installation and ensure environmental sustainability, the frame is made of wood, and the shell is made of membrane materials.
The first level is a terrace raised several steps from the ground, it serves as a barrier against snakes and insects, and is also an outdoor recreation area with a small pool from where guests can observe the surrounding landscape. The two-level solution is justified both from the point of view of minimizing the occupied area, and from the point of view of zoning the space. All the noisiest zones are located on the ground floor, and the bedroom with a window overlooking the starry sky is located separately on the second floor.
Sustainability
Safari lodges are fully autonomous units. In addition to the accumulation of solar energy and rainwater, each module is adapted to local climatic conditions and has protection from ultraviolet radiation and wind gusts in the form of a membrane tent, and also has passive ventilation.
