74 DIGS.NET
| 10.7.22
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P R O F I L E | C H E E TA H P L A I N S
"The project gently pushes the discourse of
game lodge architecture freeing it from the
cliches and themes too often prevalent in
their design," confirms ARRCC. One finds
a sleek and streamlined architecture with
cantilevered rooflines and long stretches
of stone evoking the openness of African
savannas.
Interiors, meanwhile, epitomize urban
sophistication while unambiguously
deferring to nature. Each space is a
clean, elegant expression of material-
ity, undiluted and textured, exploiting
the fascinating tension between the
natural and the man-made. "A sense of
African-ness, ever-present in the envi-
ronment, is abstracted into the interior
and is reflected in the materials, textures,
rhythms, and forms," ARRCC explains.
Used sparingly and thoughtfully, deco-
rative selections, like plush leather chairs
and organic leadwood tables, along with
statement chandeliers made of hand-
blown glass, are interspersed with vibrant
contemporary African art pieces, including
sculptures of cheetah and wild dogs by
internally acclaimed artist Gail Caitlin,
along with bold works by emerging talents.
High-touch furnishings throughout were
custom-designed by ARRCC with fellow
Cape Town design studio OKHA in collab-
oration with local craftsmen. Each piece,
and each accent, is nothing less than an
aesthetic calculation—an overture to the
extraordinary setting.
In this, Cheetah Plains capitalizes well
beyond its interior to offer a bevy of
outdoor experiences fostering interactions
with the African wilderness. The property
maintains a fleet of swashbuckling elec-
tric Land Cruisers, outfitted for comfort,
for zero-emission game drives. It also
hosts guided Bush Walks and other activ-
ities designed to immerse guests in the
immediate environment—and the planet
beyond. Stay put and find fitness facilities,
restorative wellness, a heated pool, and a
sculptural, raw-steel pool pavilion modeled
after the canopy of the local Tamboti tree.
With everything designed to create a new
hospitality experience combining sustain-
ability and chic in one of the wildest, most
enthralling corners of the world, Cheetah
Plains answers the irresistible call of nature.
cheetahplains.com
