COVER STORY
The stunning Mjejane Private Game Reserve received a structural upgrade.
Avant-garde meets
luxurious escape
Constructing spaces of tranquillity to escape the buzz of city
life is challenging especially when that structure must blend in
with the pristine South African bushveld.
By Ntsako Khosa | Photos by AOJ
A
rchitecture and design practice,
Architects of Justice (AOJ), were
specifically called in to meet this
mandate at Mjejane Private Game Reserve,
adjacent to the Kruger National Park.
Located on a private big 5 game reserve,
which is incorporated into the Kruger, that
opens onto a view of the Crocodile River on
the northern boundary, also has a green
belt on its eastern edge. The retreat is
designed to maximise the connection to
nature and wild game while ensuring
privacy between the five en-suite bedrooms
as well as from neighbouring lodges.
AOJ was commissioned to create an
avant-garde retreat the client could
withdraw into. Working with the
surroundings the estate guidelines
motivated the architects to design around
the existing flora on the site, which led to a
freeform design.
Roof design and challenges
In addition, the client is also required to
connect with nature.
Nature, however did provide its own
unique challenges, “There could be no
openings or entries into the roof void, as it
would provide the ideal habitat for a myriad
of animals to take up residence within this
space, and measures had to be taken to
prevent warthogs residing underneath the
suspended wooden deck on the north of
the site,” says Kuba Granicki from AOJ.
“Initially the roof was to be concrete and
planted,” he says.
The concept was redeveloped with a
steel roof that would be lighter and quicker
to erect on site. With this construction
m