November is the month for celebrating and showcasing every firm and project that was victorious at the inaugural SCAPE Award of Excellence. These names are raising the bar for excellence in the local architecture and design industry, standing on a stage set for international acclaim. In partnership with Infinity Surfaces and alongside our Impact Partner Oggie, we present the top firms and portfolios in the country for 2024. Introducing the Winner of Hospitality Build of the Year: Luxury Frontiers
The Madwaleni River Lodge finds itself within one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in Southern Africa, welcoming back the Big Five after nearly 150 years. In a grand showcase of safari luxury contrasted with the undeniable presence of deep-rooted Zulu culture and history, the lodge offers guests an experience of complete enchantment.
After a month-long search, a site was chosen along the White Umfolozi River in the Babanango Game Reserve. Here, Luxury Frontiers began designing a lodge that celebrates the land’s rewilding and rebirth, with tasteful references to a layered and cultural past.
Place of the rock
Once the site was found, the Luxury Frontiers team revisited it multiple times, living on-site and studying it extensively to execute a lodge that stands entirely on its own in both design language and the message it conveys to guests. The design emerged as a heartfelt tribute to the Zulu people, translating cultural symbols into contemporary expressions. Assembled in a line like a herd of moving elephants, the twelve tented accommodation units boast expansive views of the surrounding reserve. The canvas roofs, inspired by the traditional Zulu warrior shield, are made from a stretchfabric membrane and earth-coloured canvas body supported by a 22-metre curved beam.
Culture driving design
At the heart of the lodge lies its central gathering area — a haven of relaxation and communal spirit. Balustrades echoing Zulu basket-weaving patterns, disappearing roofs creating illusions of submersion, and concrete canvas roofs work in unison with the landscape. The lodge contributes to community development through partnerships with local artisans.
Sustainable materials, such as harvested invasive wattle used for intricate hand-woven walls, are prominently featured at the boma, inspired by the Zulu beehive hut, with its gracefully curved walls harmonising with the thornveld surroundings. Water conservation, energy efficiency, and responsible waste management are integral to the lodge’s operations, ensuring the preservation of this wilderness paradise for future generations.
“From site to concept to build, this project demonstrates a consistently high level of care and understanding to what makes a project belong to its context. Executed in equal level of attention to detail and environmental responsibilities, this sets Madwaleni River Lodge apart.” – Tim Kwan, Co-founder of Office AIO
This article is an extract from our November issue. Read the full issue here.
