Nicholas Plewman Architects

BISATE RESERVE

Conceived as a series of domed volumes, the design draws from the rolling terrain of Rwanda and the circular forms of the traditional King’s Palace at Nyanza.

Each villa is resolved through a clear circular geometry, organised around a central hearth and enclosed by a continuous, ribbed shell. The low, grounded profile allows the structures to sit comfortably within the landscape, reinforcing a strong relationship between form and site.

Material selection is rooted in context. A layered thatch envelope defines the outer skin, supported by timber, steel and concrete, with volcanic stone anchoring key elements. Internally, woven reeds, bamboo and papyrus introduce texture and depth, referencing local craft while contributing to performance.

🏛: Bisate Reserve
📍: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
🏗: Wilderness
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Artichoke Interiors
👷‍♂️: DeVS-SiVEST Consulting Engineers
🧱: Town and Country Construction
📊: Fox PCQ Pty Ltd
📸: Mark Woodruff + Felix Studios

KICHWA TEMBO

Tented suites are positioned within the riverine forest, using canvas and natural materials to minimise environmental impact while integrating with the surrounding landscape.

Each space opens onto a private deck, orientated toward the forest or the wider Mara plains, creating direct and uninterrupted views from the bedroom and living areas.

The pool sits within the tree canopy, with an open edge toward the savanna, allowing for expansive outlooks and a constant connection to wildlife and the landscape beyond.

🏛: Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
📍: Masai Mara National Park, Kenya
🏗: andBeyond Travel
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects in collaboration with Michaelis Boyd Associates
🛋: Fox Browne Creative
👨‍🌾: Gordon Wilfred Kershaw

TENGILE RIVER LODGE

Constructed from sustainable materials and designed with a minimal footprint, the architecture allows the ground plane and natural systems to remain largely undisturbed beneath, with private suites nestled within the riverine forest.

Generous indoor-outdoor living spaces extend onto private decks and pools with uninterrupted views of the Sand River, creating a continuous connection to the surrounding bush while maintaining a sense of privacy and calm.

🏛: Tengile River Lodge
📍: Sabi Sands, South Africa
🏗: andBeyond Travel
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Michele Throssell Interiors
📸: Dook photography
👨‍🌾: Gordon Wilfred Kershaw

AWARDS | SUYIAN LODGE

We’re thrilled to share that Suyian Lodge has won the Lodges + Camps category at the 22nd Annual Hospitality Design magazine Awards. Out of more than 1,000 international submissions, the project was recognised amongst this year’s leading hospitality destinations.

Set within the Suyian Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya, the lodge was designed in careful response to its remote landscape and ecological context. Drawing on the spatial qualities and material language of traditional East African settlements, the architecture uses stone, timber and lightweight structures to create a contemporary safari camp that sits lightly within the terrain.

Congratulations to all the teams and projects recognised this year.

🏛: andBeyond Suyian
📍: Suyian Conservancy, Kenya
🏗: andBeyond Travel
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects in collaboration with Michaelis Boyd Associates
🛋: Fox Browne Creative
👷: Continental Consultants LLP
📸: Dook photography

NXABEGA OKAVANGO TENTED CAMP

Guest areas are designed to sit lightly within the Delta landscape, elevated on timber structures and opened out to uninterrupted views.

Raised decks and walkways connect the architecture above the ground plane, reducing impact on the sensitive floodplain while allowing water, vegetation and wildlife to move naturally beneath.

The central spaces prioritise indoor outdoor living, with open dining, lounge and pool areas framed by timber, thatch and expansive sightlines across the grasslands and waterways.

A simple, elevated approach that connects guests directly to the surrounding environment while remaining carefully integrated into it.

🏛: Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
📍: Okavango Delta, Botswana
🏗: andBeyond Travel
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Fox Browne Creative

MNEMBA ISLAND

The public areas at Mnemba Island are designed as open coastal structures positioned along the shoreline. Dining spaces, lounges and the dive centre prioritise shade, natural airflow and uninterrupted ocean views.

The architecture draws from Swahili coastal building traditions, using timber structure, coral stone walls and thatch roofs suited to the island’s marine climate. Large overhangs and open sides allow the buildings to remain naturally ventilated throughout the day.

Curved seating walls, timber decks and shaded pergolas organise the dining and dive spaces, creating durable structures that sit comfortably within the island landscape.

🏛: Mnemba Island
📍: Mnemba island, Zanzibar
🏗: andBeyond Travel
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Fox Browne Creative
👷‍♂️: DeVS-SiVEST Consulting Engineers
🧱: Isafree Construction Co. Ltd
📊: P**a Cost Consulting
📸: Dookphotography

LAMULA LODGE

Set within the Greater Kruger bushveld, Lamula Lodge is arranged as a series of low pavilions carefully positioned among existing trees.

The architecture prioritises openness and climate responsiveness. Deep roof overhangs, shaded verandas and permeable screens allow natural ventilation while protecting interiors from the harsh sun.

Natural stone, timber, brick and reed ceilings reflect the tones of the surrounding landscape, grounding the building in its environment. Guest suites and shared spaces open directly onto the bush, strengthening the connection between architecture and site.

🏛: Lamulalodge
📍: Elephant Point Private Reserve, Kruger National Park, South Africa
🏗: Elephant Point
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Reflecting Africa
📸: Elsa Young

JABALI RIDGE

Positioned among granite boulders on a rocky kopje in Ruaha National Park, Jabali Ridge was designed with the highest respect for its natural environment.

Curved thatch roofs, timber framing and natural stone echo the tones and textures of the surrounding granite landscape and vegetation. Suites are open-plan and oriented to maximise natural airflow, reducing the need for mechanical cooling while maintaining uninterrupted views across the savannah.

🏛: Jabali Ridge
📍: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
🏗: Asilia Africa
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
🛋: Artichoke Interiors
📸: Stevie Mann

GIRAFFE MANOR DAY SPA RETREAT

Set within the forested estate of Giraffe Manor, The day Spa Retreat mimics the language of the historic lodge through proportion, material and form.

Large stone arches and deep-set openings frame the surrounding canopy, drawing the landscape into the interior spaces. Steel-framed glazing and vaulted ceilings create volume and light, while masonry walls anchor the building in its setting.

The wellness spaces open onto sheltered terraces on either side of a slender pool where giraffes occasionally approach to drink through an arched opening, reinforcing the close relationship between architecture and its wildlife context.

🏛: Giraffe Retreat
📍: Nairobi, Kenya
🏗: The Safari Collection
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects
📸: Enrico Costantini & Brian Siambi

ARIJIJU HOUSE

Carved into the Borana Conservancy in Kenya, Arijiju House is defined by its natural integration. Stone walls and grass-planted roofs emerge from the hillside, embedding the architecture within its terrain.

Organised around a vaulted courtyard, the plan draws on Ethiopian earth structures and monastic precedents, creating a sequence of arches, thresholds and framed views across the valley.

Interior spaces extend this language of solidity and calm. Thick masonry walls, timber beams and filtered light shape bedrooms, bathing courts and spa rooms that open directly to the landscape.

Locally crafted materials and off-grid systems underpin a considered, low-impact strategy. Architecture grounded in place, climate and context.

🏛: Arijiju House
📍: Borana Conservancy, Kenya
🏗: Arijiju
📐: Nicholas Plewman Architects in collaboration with Michaelis Boyd Associates
🛋: LIFE Interiors, Architecture & Strategic Design
📸: Dookphotography