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Kiboko Lodge is a project situated within a beautiful natural landscape, designed with the utmost respect for its environmentally sensitive surroundings.

Set on a cliff face with no existing infrastructure or services, the lodge is completely off the grid and sustainable, minimizing its impact on the environment.

The primary goal of the design was to construct a smart, self-sufficient lodge that can regulate its own underfloor heating and cooling. This state-of-the-art system taps into solar power by utilizing panels on the rooftop which transfer energy towards a swimming pool acting as an energy reservoir.

From there, this stored heat can be administered throughout the house’s underfloor pipe network or used for boosting warm water supply requiring less additional electricity consumption in pursuit of desired temperature levels.  Given that most sections face westward, we installed double-glazed Solarview glass alongside automated louvers capable of handling varying sun angles year-round.

The lodge’s ambitious and bold design emphasizes the dramatic views of the cliff that it is set upon, while its footprint ensures minimal disturbance to the natural landscape.

Strong horizontal lines define the single-story structure, blending it with the surroundings. The façades of the building are clad in natural timber, creating a harmonious with the surrounding environment.

This choice of material allows the building to blend into its natural setting and adds a sense of warmth and texture to the elevations. The timber façades create a visual connection to the landscape, reflecting the beauty of nature in the architectural design and offering a sense of tranquillity between the built and natural environments.

As guest approach the building, the only visible opening is the entrance, which carefully conceals views until they step inside.

The lodge’s interior spaces are arranged to open towards the valley below, creating a constant awareness of the natural surroundings. The use of natural colours throughout the design softens the long horizontal structure, integrating it into the landscape.

An exciting feature is a cantilevered swimming pool, which extends away from the building and points towards the main view line, offering a unique perspective of the valley below. The pool can be seen from all the main entertainment areas and serves to accentuate the distant views of the horizon.

The main bedroom is connected to the rest of the house via a glass bridge, which provides a journey from the entertainment area to a private retreat.

The main lodge spans 900m², while three guest units, each measuring 60m², offer additional space for visitors. The lodge’s circulation plan incorporates staggered levels, mimicking the natural contours of the topography and ensuring privacy as guests move between buildings.

Arte Construction, a company with an excellent reputation, has been selected as the contractor for this unique project. Their expertise in constructing high-end lodges in remote and challenging locations, such as Nyati, makes them an ideal choice for this project.

Arte Construction’s experience in managing the logistics of transporting materials to difficult-to-access sites ensures the smooth progress of the project, even in the most demanding conditions.

To facilitate the construction of the lodge while ensuring the safety of the workers, an entire camp has been established on-site.

This enclosed camp provides a secure environment for the workers, protecting them from the local wildlife, including the big five, and serves as proof of Arte Construction’s commitment to delivering exceptional results while prioritizing the well-being of their team.

Kiboko Lodge is expected to be completed by mid-2025.