Johannesburg-based architecture firm Nicholas Plewman Architects has built this small holiday lodge in Ruaha National Park, Iringa, Tanzania. Named Jabali Ridge Lodge, the small building resembles a shelter that houses some travelers walking around and a random space that any one can enter in.

Situated on a high rocky ridge, the structure offers undisturbed views of the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. Emerging from the raw landscape, it is made of a permeable timber structure to provide unobtrusive vantage points which immerse the visitor in the wilderness.

If you love to sleep among raw materials, furnitures, fixtures and with nature, this small vacation place can be a perfect place to choose. All rooms are completely open to the nature. If guests prefer a bit privacy, they are be able to close the whole structure with wooden shutters.

"Jabali, as with all Asilia projects, was built with the highest respect for the natural environment. One of the primary design drivers was that the lodge shouldn’t be visible to the human eye from a distance," said Nicholas Plewman Architects.

"This was achieved through careful placement of the structures, thoughtful shaping of the built forms, and appropriate material choices. The result is a lodge that blends seamlessly into the rocky outcrops of the region."

Guest areas are linked with wooden walkways and raised on stilts to optimize the mesmerizing views around every turn and boulder. The simple designs are offset by striking elements such as the roofs, which give the buildings a sense of whimsy in their surreal setting.

The lodge offers a comforting yet close-up experience of the wild remoteness of the Ruaha National Park. The rooms grow out of their natural foundations to create luxurious hideaways from which to experience one of the most untouched African landscapes.  

Ground floor plan

Typical unit first floor plan

Section C-C

Section D-D

Section A-A

All images © Stevie Mann

> via Nicholas Plewman Architects