Nyala Lodge – Khaya Ndlovu

A number of projects are now finishing off again – now that it’s getting closer to the end of the year.  One of them being Nyala Lodge just outside Hoedspruit at Khaya Ndolovu Estate (formerly Welverdiend).  Designed for a British couple who want to spend several months of their year in sunny S.A. – this house is not “typically Hoedspruit“, both owners and architect are rather proud of this fact.

The outside paint colour was not by client or architect’s choice – it is unfortunately Estate prescribed and has been referred to as “Pumpkin Puke” by several parties… does not blend in very harmoniously with Bushveld colours.  A few things still have to be completed e.g. the kitchen island is still waiting for the perfect piece of wood as it’s counter (a temporary island counter has been installed). The clients are looking forward to finding beautiful pieces in off beat places to finish off their decorating.

Posted by Melanie

New Project Mapangubwe Private Reserve

Exciting new eco project near Alldays, situated on the scenic Mapangubwe Private Nature Reserve 64 plots on a 3,500 hectare reserve. For further details see www.mapangubwepnr.com

Pontao Marapi, Vilanculous

The luxury private beach house on the Sanctuary at Vilanculous, Mozambique has now been completed – 5 “sleeping” chalets, a main building with bar and pool and a 250m long jetty to a gazebo way out into the sea.  All wooden doors and windows were manufactured on site, including all wood carving work an exemplary example of local craftmanship.  Now that Pontao Marapi has been completed earnest attention can be given to our next project on the Sanctuary, which should commence early May 2010.

Our new lodge on the Sanctuary, Vilanculous, Mozambique

Intersect Architects is tackling the next lodge on the Sanctuary, Vilanculous – Mozambique!!  This lodge will be situated adjacent to the lodge being currently completed and is owned by the same owner.  Where the first lodge is their private lodge – the new project will be syndicated for fractional ownership.  The lodge will consist of a main building with six separate suites.  Should anyone be interested in fractional ownership for this property, please free to contact us.  This blog will be updated with additional pics as soon as they are completed.

Running Free – Horse Stables

Scraping in before the start of the December holidays is the completion of a 5 star Horse Stable in Kyalami.  The design is contemporary and loosely based on American Stable architecture incorporating rusted door hinges, bolts and lights – the building is surprisingly cool during summer due to a number of vents that have been included in the roof structure.  A Coffee Shop/Club House for owners of stabled horses, has also been provided adjacent to the stables.

Beach Lodge on the Sanctuary – Vilanculous

Robin and the Client (with a few additional guests) did a quick fly in and out “site visit” yesterday to the lodge on the Sanctuary, Vilanculous – Mozambique.  The project is now fast nearing completion, with the ironmongery order from France having arrived on site ready for installation.  Materials on this project had to be brought over to the Sanctuary by dhouw- the wood, stone, cement, etc. which made a normal day’s building a tad bit more difficult.  All the doors and windows for the project were purpose made and carved on site, by local Mozambican craftsmen and then treated to look “weathered and old” – this I might add, the local craftsmen found very confusing!

New Bush Lodge “Nyala” goes on site at Welverdiend

Our latest lodge went on site at the Welverdiend Estate (newly named Kaya Ndlovu), just outside Hoedspruit on the 2nd of November 2009.  The completion date has been postponed to August 2010 due to our UK clients being unable to get to S.A. as result of the World Cup – who would have thought the soccer would have an impact on a lodge just outside Hoedspruit …. far from any of the soccer matches.  The architectural pictures do not do the site justice, as it situated on the edge of a deep dry river bed with awesome views of Mariepskop and the Drakensberg.

Nyala

“Plantation” project in Thornybush

August 2009 saw the completion of a luxury private bush lodge in Thornybush.  This project had its own unique set of problems that architects don’t have to deal with on normal building sites – hiding from charging elephants to a pride of lions wondering right through the building site on their way to a morning’s hunt.  Site meetings, therefore, ran on a different par – try hiding in a loo, then realise there is no door to the loo, and that the “visiting cat” could walk right in to grab a bite …  On another site in the Timbavati 5000 litre empty water tanks were delivered on site, a couple of days later when the building team arrived – no tanks, lots of footprints though – the elephants had decided the tanks were their latest “toys”, they had tossed (tusk puncture marks) and rolled the tanks for 2km into the veld!

Recession? What recession?

Life at Intersect Architects has been particularly hectic of late, as we get to the end of a number of exciting projects. We have completed three homes on the Tzaneen Dam, an office block and Coffee Shop in Tzaneen, two lodges in the Timbavati, a lodge at Wild Rivers Hoedspruit, a bush style motor dealership in Hoedspruit, a lodge in Vilanculos Mozambique and a swanky lodge in Thornybush for the jetsetters, Hoedspruit- ALL IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.  To add to that we are in the process of completing the most elaborate stables I have seen for eight horses in Kyalami, Johannesburg and will be able to post pics on that project soon.

Needless to say, I have colours, finishes, lights and bathroom fittings rushing through my head. I am pleased to say that each project has been refreshingly unique, despite the fact that they were all completed at the same time. I believe we shook Tzaneen up with an extremely modern home on the Tzaneen Dam.

I am busy with exciting projects in Vilanculos, Cape Town, Johannesburg , Thabazimbi and more game lodges in Hoedspruit. I am grateful to have new and exciting challenges to replace the tempo of the past months despite an economic downturn which has unavoidably affected us all.

House Dawid and Ilse Pieterse