Overview

Description: In 2015 APS were commissioned to come up with a brand new camp design and layout, to replace the existing infrastructure at Ruckomechi Tented Camp, which was showing signs of old age, and deterioration.

Challenge: Our challenge was to design a contemporary new camp that was both modern and minimalist but drew its sense of place from the surrounding flaura and fauna, incredible panoramic views of the Zambezi valley, and where possible incorporated local materials from around the site. In addition our client was under severe time pressure to have the camp quickly designed and constructed during the impending rainy season - This pressure was pushed to the design team, to fast track the whole process and come up with unusual and creative context specific solutions.

Solution: The driving idea behind the architectural concept is centred around simple unobtrusive forms, canvas tents stretched over cantilevering steel frames, and an ambiguity between inside and outside. Broad and expansive decks and walkways link the individual tents and offer a multitude of external gathering spaces, integrated within the existing mature trees and grasses of the site. At all times the mighty Zambezi River, its flood plains and associated animals are at the front and centre of the guest experience. We were under severe time pressure from the start, not only to design and document the proposals for construction before the camp broke for the wet season. As such our design makes full advantage of off-site prefabrication techniques that would allow the constituent elements to be made quickly and cheaply off site and then brought together seamlessly.