Page 16 - Issue-137

PROJECT

PHINdA FOREST LOdGE

Phinda Forest Lodge in the Phinda Private Game Reserve, KZN, is located within a
sensitive ecosystem - an endangered sand forest, and it was crucial to preserve this
during a recent upgrade of the lodge. Meetings were held on site with the entire
project team to ensure that this was adhered to.

Project Team
Client: andBeyond
Architect: Jack Alexander Architecture Studio in Partnership with
Fox Browne Creative
Project Architect: Ann Chang – Jack Alexander Architecture Studio
Interior Design: Fox Browne Creative (Chris Browne and Debra Fox)
Project Designer: Stefania Magni for Fox Browne Creative
Landscape Design and Installation: Gordon Kershaw
Building Contractor: Mike Buyskes Construction

he landscape brief to Gordon Kershaw emphasised that
contractors should keep to designated, marked out pathways
Twithin the forest areas, to make sure there was minimal
disturbance to the very fragile forest surrounding the rooms, and to
keep the existing footprint intact.
The new pathways had to be carefully designed and master-
planned by architect Jack Alexander to create as much privacy as
possible between the rooms, and to cause as little disturbance to the
natural vegetation and sand forest as possible. Old pathway areas
no longer in use had to be rehabilitated and made to disappear. All
plant material forming part of the new pathways was relocated and
transplanted in the forest.
The landscape brief for the new main area, extended swimming
pool, gym and spa was as follows:
• to create privacy between the gym and spa buildings. This was No disturbance of the forest floor was permitted; it contains numerous old,
done by bringing in locally sourced dead tree branches, stumps moss-covered tree trunks
and brush packing around indigenous plant species to try and
protect them as much as possible from foraging animals such as
Nyala. Open forest areas were planted with large indigenous trees
to reach above the browse line of the Nyala and other antelope.
Smaller plant species were inter-planted in the thick brush packing
to give them a chance to establish before being consumed by the
animals;
• to rehabilitate the new main area and swimming pool surrounds
after construction, and to plant local indigenous trees, grasses and
shrubs. Views to the vlei area in front of the lodge were opened up
by the Munywana Conservation Management team, which played
an essential role in suppling Kershaw with the natural materials
needed for the job;
• newly designed walkways designed by the architect were carefully
laid out between all the trees and selective pruning was done by
the landscaper to minimise any damage to the forest canopy.
Along with the client’s brief, the landscape design concept was to
rejuvenate the forest surrounding the new buildings by introducing
indigenous trees and shrubs and to rehabilitate any disturbed areas
to make everything as natural as possible.
The most important factor for the lodge was to ensure that there
was as little disturbance to the forest canopy and floor as possible.
The entire forest floor is covered with very old, moss-covered tree
trunks, with delicate epiphytes and orchids hanging from the tree
branches. All these areas were considered strictly out of bounds -
only animals allowed. Most of the tree trunks are from the Lebombo
wattle (Newtonia hilderantii) and Torchwood (Balanites muagammi)
trees which tower high up in the forest canopy, along with False
Tamboti (Cleisanthis schlechlei) trees. Delicate epiphytes and orchids hang from tree branches

14 Landscape SA • Issue 137 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za