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Little Kuala, Namibia
With their acclaimed work for Wilderness Safaris, the South African architect Silvio Rech and interior designer Laurie Owen have made their name as a dream team for hoteliers looking for contemporary design with eco cache.
Their lodge in the Okavango Delta, Vumbura Plains, was the first to catch our eye as it was a radical departure from the cut-glass crystal and pith-helmets pastiche of the ubiquitous upmarket luxury game park retreat. Little Kuala was yet more impressive as the architecture references the local vernacular with its thatching, and its location in a dried-up lake called Dead Vlei is a perfect spot for experiencing Namibia’s dunes.
The roofs are supported by reclaimed tree trunks, chairs are woven from recycled plastic by South African designer Haldan Martin, raffia Medusa lamps are made with hand-rolled glass beads from Ghana and Ethiopian silver-nickel beads hang from walls.
art 15 Jun 2007
101 beautiful, innovative but environmentally friendly designs - from the worlds of architecture, beauty, fashion, food, packaging, product design, transport and travel - from all over the world.