w design embeds luxurious glass suite in the heart of south african wilderness reserve

‘where man and mountain meet’ is a lodge by w design architecture studio in welgevonden game reserve, part of the waterberg biosphere in the limpopo province of south africa, one of the most accessible premier malaria-free wilderness reserves in the country. the reserve is home to the ‘big five’ and over 130 different mammal species and is best known for its fascinating and rare ancient rock formations and layers of sandstone mountain ridges and ravines. this lodge is one of the five new luxury suites in 57 waterberg, an existing private game lodge originally constructed in the 1990s and renovated in 2019 to include an extension, an upgraded main lounge, a new and expanded chef’s kitchen, laundry, and various other ancillary functions.

images by DOOK for VISI
sleek horizontal planes blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, offering visitors a discreet up-close-and-personal haven in the heart of the bushveld

w design architecture studio envisioned a ‘new dawn’ where the buildings become secondary to the guest experience – a place where the landscape and natural surroundings come first. the conceptual idea for this project was based on creating a space that celebrates the context, one that appears as if it is the refinement and revelation of the land. the design focus was on creating a place that would allow ‘man’ to meet the mountain. beyond the rational and functional design, this project aims to trigger and facilitate an emotional or spiritual awakening to the african landscape.

the seemingly solid mass turns into a lightweight floating structure of steel, glass, and wood allowing nature to take center stage

these new structures aren’t meant to be looked at, but to be looked out from. more than anything, these spaces are sheltered viewing platforms. the focus is on the overwhelming presence of the layers of mountains, the natural bushveld, and the endless open space. the project design and execution were driven by an extremely short construction period of only 14 weeks – this, coupled with the remote location led to the unique approach of isolating each building element to allow not only off-site manufacturing but more importantly simultaneous processes.

the family unit consists of two back to back rooms and merge unobtrusively into the unique landscape

the complete construction process by w design architecture studio was based on separating all the various trades and planning for pre-manufacturing and on-site assembly – connecting and completing like an intricate three-dimensional puzzle. all building elements and components were further designed and planned as ‘single trade and unfinished’ – an approach that ensured the most direct and honest construction. the primary construction material is mild steel I-beam profiles, which serve as the skeleton and shape the ‘backbone’ onto which all the other building components attach. secondary materials include cast in situ reinforced concrete for the ‘floating’ roofs, wooden decking for the floors, ceilings and terraces, aluminum and glass for the shopfronts.

the saltwater pool installation was a stroke of genius, as the new amenities are clearly enjoyed by the locals as much as the guests – and the highlight of everyone’s stay at 57 waterberg

the furniture, which was all custom-designed, is based on the matching principle. along with the various lightweight, pre-manufactured, and imported construction elements, the crucial building block which facilitates the ‘grounding’ of the built structures are the native stone-clad screen walls, a material that transcends our human timescale. w design made these structures enclose the essentially open rooms and counterbalance the ‘lightweight’ construction with its ‘heavy’ form – almost as if the rocks scattered over the landscape were simply collected and pushed together.

meticulous attention was given to the overall master plan layout of the lodge, with the exact position of each new guest suite carefully selected for its unique natural beauty

the walkways, slightly elevated above the landscape, guide the guests to their rooms, which are a refined version of the rock-strewn outcroppings scattered throughout the reserve

the natural wood and stone interior finishes take their cue from the exterior palette, melting away the boundaries between inside and outside

breathing in the fresh mountain air and floating lightly over the indigenous vegetation, all the bedrooms have their own private timber decks and swimming pools

the striking black vanity unit with its steel frame and precast black concrete tops were designed to be assembled in a plug-and-play fashion, simplifying the construction process on-site

the laidback sofa and sumptuous rug creates a cozy spot to watch the sunset snuggled in beside the fireplace

more than anything, these spaces are sheltered viewing platforms. the focus is on the overwhelming presence of the layers of mountains, the natural bushveld, and the endless open space

concept sketch – the idea of a ‘sheltered platform’

project info:

name: 57 WATERBERG – where man and mountain meet

designer: w design architecture studio

location: welgevonden game reserve, vaalwater, limpopo, south africa

photography: DOOK for VISI

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: yasmina karam | designboom