Hotels magazine - Singita Boulders Lodge

THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLDWIDE HOTEL INDUSTRY
OCTOBER 2014
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Design: Singita BoulderS lodge
Headline
with the
the redesigned Singita
Boulders Lodge looks
to strengthen its
connections to its striking
natural surroundings.
by Ann BAgEL STOrck, mAnAging EdiTOr
S
eventeen years after it first
opened, Singita Boulders Lodge
— the 12-room luxury resort
located on the boulder-strewn
banks of the Sand River in Singita’s
privately owned Sabi Sand Game Reserve
adjacent to Kruger National Park in
South Africa — has debuted a renovation with an aim toward deepening the
property’s connections with its stunning
natural surroundings. Cape Town, South
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HOTELS October2014 www.hotelsmag.com
Africa-based Singita, which operates
12 lodges and camps in various parts of
Africa, is dedicated to environmentally
conscious hospitality and claims a core
vision to preserve the continent’s
wilderness for future generations.
“With its original design inspiration
taken from the ancient boulders along
the river bed of the Sand River, the
redesign has taken this a step further
and incorporates more of the
colors, textures and elements of the
surrounding landscape,” explains Lindy
Rousseau, the property’s group sales
and marketing director. “The lodge has
also been opened to the outside, allowing more interaction with nature and
continuous connection with wildlife.”
Architect Sally Tsiliyiannis of GAPP
Architects & Urban Designers, Cape
Town, South Africa, and Cécile & Boyd
Interior Design, also based in Cape
Town, worked to focus on natural
elements and highlight materials inspired
by the environment as much as possible.
Overall, pared-down interiors use a
palette of charcoal, chalk, bone, rust
copper and ochre to bring out the essence
of the landscape’s boulders and reflect
the elements of earth, fire, air and water.
“The interior spaces at the lodge are
infused with nature-inspired materials
and furniture pieces that are organic and
bold,” notes Boyd Ferguson, Cécile &
Boyd Interior Design’s creative director.
“Washed texture and new natural materials combined with natural pigments and
intense color punctuate the design.”
Singita
BoulderS
lodge
renovation
deBut date:
June 9, 2014
accommodationS:
12 suites, two of which are designed exclusively for families
location:
On the banks of the Sand River
in Singita’s privately owned
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
adjacent to Kruger National
Park in South Africa
general manager:
Graham Kennedy
owner:
Singita, Cape Town,
South Africa
Each of the 12 suites features a
private infinity pool.
In the suites, original artwork created
by local craftspeople takes center stage
along with details such as leather
cushions made with tribal stitching to
express the link with primitive man.
Common areas also look to the
surrounding area, often literally — a new
outdoor dining pavilion provides
spectacular vantage points above the
Sand River while indoors, alcoves in the
dining room feature a curated collection
of animal skulls and bones as well as
collected crystals and fossils.
Singita Boulders Lodge also is
committed to sustainable hospitality, and
in addition to reusing and refashioning
various elements from the resort’s
original design, the design team incorporated local stone and wood extensively.
Rousseau says Singita Boulders Lodge
appeals to a broad range of guests and
has always achieved “consistently high
occupancy levels.” Rousseau notes the
redesign has not affected that or the
property’s set rate, which for 2014 is
approximately US$1,370 including
amenities such as all meals and beverages
and various safaris.
Less tangible but critical to the property’s design, however, is Ferguson’s hope
that guests also actively engage with the
lodge throughout their stay. He adds,
“There is a sense of authenticity,
earthiness and primal beauty so they
start seeing things again with a fresh
perspective — perhaps even rediscovering aspects of themselves from which
they may have been cut off.”
lead architect:
Sally Tsiliyiannis of GAPP
Architects & Urban
Designers, Cape Town,
South Africa
lead interior
deSigner:
Cécile & Boyd Interior Design,
Cape Town, South Africa
deSign aeSthetic:
A focus on the property’s
unique sense of place with
reference to the elements of
earth, fire, air and water
notaBle amenitieS:
A new outdoor dining pavilion
promising spectacular vantage points above the Sand
River; the new Copper Bar,
which serves as the lodge’s
central meeting point; the
Bush Spa, which takes a
holistic approach to treatments and aims to complement the beauty and
tranquility of the wilderness
www.hotelsmag.com October2014 HOTELS
29
Design: Singita BoulderS lodge
The lodge is
located on
the boulderstrewn
banks of the
Sand River
in Singita’s
privately
owned Sabi
Sand Game
Reserve adjacent to Kruger
National
Park in
South Africa.
Suites are
either open to
the elements
or separated
from the
outdoors by
glass walls.
Suites
showcase
abundant
local
artworks
including
Motherwellinspired
abstract
paintings
created using
primitive
tools.
30
HOTELS October2014 www.hotelsmag.com
Design: Singita BoulderS lodge
Alcoves in the dining room feature a curated collection of animal skulls and
bones as well as collected crystals and fossils while a hanging mobile uses
copper to symbolize the element of fire.
Pared-down interiors use a palette of charcoal, chalk, bone, rust copper
and ochre to bring out the essence of the landscape’s boulders and
reflect the four elements of earth, fire, air and water.
Even bathrooms
aim to connect
guests with
the natural
landscape.
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HOTELS October2014 www.hotelsmag.com
Design: Singita BoulderS lodge
The main lodge area also features a swimming pool.
On the new dining deck, light comes from clusters of nest-shaped woven
lampshades while the adjacent Sand River promises stunning views.
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HOTELS October2014 www.hotelsmag.com
The new Copper Bar serves as the lodge’s central meeting point.