The revamped Granite Suites at Londolozi Private Game Reserve take their cue from the rugged extrusion of granite rocks that give the camp its name.
Interiors maven Yvonne O’Brein is no stranger to giving life to concept briefs. She was behind the re-interpretation of a bush lodge where she was tasked with adding a sixth star to the camp’s existing five around the keywords ‘exclusive’ and ‘luxurious’ in a highly competitive hospitality echelon.
Distinctive: never tough
Granite Camp needed a strong, distinctive look without lurching into caricature, and preserving comfort and style. O’Brien’s signature is visible in her signature looks. The textured jute flooring, vast sofas upholstered in the unmistakable drape of pure linen, and bleached wood interspersed with slim black metal pieces are her distinctive touch. She introduced unique objects, like the tall lamp stands reminiscent of traditional Maasai spears. Wildlife shots by photographer Horst Klemm provide a sophisticated aesthetic. Although it’s a wildly glamorous escape it’s still geographically and culturally appropriate to its place in the wild. For the colour palette, Yvonne took her references from nature. The tonal range glides from shimmering mica to antique silver to charcoal to dark elephant grey.
“The rock the camp sits on influenced us. We introduced elephant grey tones in response to the ellies come down to bath and drink right in front of the rooms nearly every afternoon. The starting point was those charcoal colours. We layered from there.”
High standards
The brief included the need to match the standards of the Relais & Chateaux group of elite hotels, yet still give guests an Out of Africa bush experience.
Yvonne’s team worked to tight deadlines. After the initial planning phase, they had a month to prepare off-site. A rare gap in Londolozi’s bookings allowed the team a window of opportunity for the installation. A whirlwind few days followed. Nevertheless, the greatest challenge came from the bush itself.
“The biggest challenges were primarily from the harshness of the sun on the main deck. Fabrics and people alike are vulnerable in the intense heat of the day. One problem was from monkeys knocking glassware over in an attempt to snatch food!”
