Page 17 - Issue-137

PROJECT

Walkway out of the forest area to the rehabilitated pool area A swinging chair in a secluded pool deck area, built in the same ‘bird’s nest’ style
as the fire pit

Pathway inside the forest area leading to the guest rooms Rehabilitation of old main area pathway

Scope of works for the overall installation harvested and collected locally in the Phinda reserve, were stock-piled,
Kershaw’s scope of work was restricted mainly to the landscape dried and then used to clad the structure and create the bird’s nest
installation and rehabilitation, and comprised the following: effect. The entire structure is self-supporting – working exactly like a
• screening for privacy real bird’s nest. The form of the nest itself evolved over many site visits
• relocation of pathways and a detailed sampling process that was achieved only through a
• planting up of bare areas / forest fringes great deal of collaboration with the Munywana Conservation team.
• rehabilitation of all construction areas
• pruning and shaping of landscape areas. Pool and deck areas
Large tree species used on the forest fringes and open areas were The sub-structure surrounding the existing pool was completely rebuilt,
2-3 m tall, above the Nyala browsing height. They included the following: and all the old decking planks were refurbished and then re-installed.
XL – schotia brachypetala Rather than changing or demolishing the existing circular pool (which
XL – Brachylaena discolor worked beautifully with the bird’s nest reference for the fire pit), the
XL – Heteropyxis natalensis architects felt that a new infinity pool could be easily added, affording
XL – Antidesma venosum guests views back into the forest and now over the vlei from inside the
XL – Apodytes dimidiata pool itself. Together with a private sala and guest bathroom, clad in the
XL – Carissa bispinosa same branches and using the same ‘bird’s nest’ technique as the fire pit –
However, even with the height of these trees, the Nyala were observed, the two pools and their deck areas work together seamlessly to expand
on their hind legs, climbing the trees to reach the new, fresh leaves. the naturally shaded outdoor space available to guests.
Vlei areas in front of the lodge hold water for most of the year,
attracting large amounts of animals. These areas were pruned open Maintenance
by the Munywana Conservation Management team so that they Maintenance of the lodge is undertaken in-house with the
have become more visible from the lodge. andBeyond Forest Lodge garden team. Kershaw says some of the
people who worked with him were trained up by him during the
Hard landscaping landscape installation to ensure that over time, the landscaping
The fire pit, conceptualised by Jack Alexander and brought to life by remains in keeping with his and the architect’s original vision.
project architect Ann Chang, was crafted in reference to the nest of
the local Black-backed Weaver – a bird species indigenous to the sand Information supplied by Gordon Kershaw and Jack Alexander Architecture
forest at Phinda. The circular structure was first built in brickwork with studio.
hardwood decking used for the flooring and built-in seating. Branches, Photos courtesy of Gordon Kershaw. n

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