Michaelis Boyd has worked alongside the local architect Nick Plewman on Sandibe Lodge in Botswana to create an iconic sustainable new build safari lodge evoking a creature of the forest. Sandibe is intended to be the anchor lodge for the destination and with generous design freedom and budget; it was possible to produce a striking design that evoked the Pangolin, a solitary creature from the African bush.
Each of the twelve rooms, which have the look and feel of a cozy bird’s nest, have private pools and decks, outdoor showers and bathrooms with elegant vanity mirrors and copper sinks. The shell of each accommodation is lined with a custom-made insulating fabric, which keeps guests cozy during the colder winter evenings, but can be hot during other times of the year (air conditioning will be installed in each of the rooms soon). Weather permitting, guests may sleep under the stars on their outdoor decks. The scheme design is luxurious, sculptural and clean, from the twelve elevated guest suites to the sweeping timber ribs in the main areas leading to the dramatic curved bar. Demonstrating MB’s design focus on flow, light and space and capturing the tranquility of the region, the design shows a clear move away from the typically dark interiors of Safari lodges.
