Simona is an interior design and décor writer for Homedit. Since 2011, she has been writing about interior design, DIY solutions, and the latest trends in home architecture.
The Cheetah Plains game lodge located in the beautiful Sabi Sand Game Reserve from South Africa is a wonderful project that’s been recently completed by studio ARRCC. The property as a whole manages something very special: to offer a new type of safari experience by combining elements associated with out modern lifestyles and with nature which in this area of the globe is very raw and primal.
The Cheetah Plains game lodge offers a new safari experience which complements nature with modern architecture
The designers were able to resolve the tension between these contrasting elements by combining sustainable architecture with a minimalist, African aesthetic. There are three main components which make up the lodge as a whole and they’re referred to as Plains Houses. Each of the three sections is made up of several free-standing buildings arranged in clusters.
The property is organized into three main sections, each with a private arrival courtyardThe materials used by the architects focus on creating a natural and organic connection between architecture and the outdoorsThe buildings are scattered across the land which allows the preservation of the existing treesThe raw textures of the materials give the buildings lots of character and also help them connect with their surroundings
The Plains Houses have private courtyards, open-plan lounge areas, dining rooms, bars, wine rooms, private living areas as well as standalone bedrooms suites with dressing rooms and baths with open directly to the outdoors. The relationship between the indoor and the outdoor is a very special one. The architecture, in this case, is meant to enhance the experience of the outdoors rather than to mimic the immediate surroundings in order to blend in. This strategy is a very successful one and part of the reason for that has to do with the palette of materials used throughout the project which include Mica, Corten steel and timber, all chosen for their ability to age and weather beautifully over time.
The architecture and overall designs of the buildings are modern but also infused with African aestheticThe transitions between the indoor and outdoor are almost seamlessThe Plains Houses include a variety of indoor functions as well as outdoor areas with poolsThe pool areas include lounge decks and pavilions designed in a modern style
The interior design is defined by softness and a wonderful use of different types of texturesMany aspects of the interior design and decor are inspired by the outdoorsThe overall simplicity of the interior design allows the focus to be on the views and the exteriorThe internal areas have direct access outdoors and large windows which bring the outdoors inThe materials featured throughout the spaces showcase pure and natural finishes in tone with the theme of this projectThis is a project which aims to redefine luxury and to offer a completely new type of experienceLuxury and glamour are complemented by raw and primal beauty and that creates a wonderful sense of placeThe high ceiling creates a sense of grandeur but with a focus on the immense beauty coming from outsideThe project as a whole also has a strong African identity which gives spaces lots of characterA lot of furniture pieces have been custom-designed by the architects specifically for this projectThe angular forms in the design and the architecture of the project are inspired by the Acacia thorns common in this area
