ANDBEYOND SUYIAN LODGE - SUYIAN CONSERVANCY, KENYA
The thoughtful design ensures that every element, from the contemporary architecture in a unique rocky setting to the serene interiors underpinned by sustainable practices, gives guests a profound sense of place immersed in the heart of Laikipia.
THE BRIEF
Our brief was to design a lodge that felt grounded in place—ecologically sensitive, quietly luxurious, and deeply connected to its surroundings. Set within the remote Suyian Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya, &Beyond Suyian Lodge was envisioned as a sanctuary that would celebrate the dramatic terrain and wildlife of this untamed region. The client sought a new kind of safari experience—one that honoured the elemental beauty of Laikipia while elevating it with modern comfort and layered storytelling. Fox Browne Creative was responsible for strategic direction, interior design, and the overall guest experience.
The client sought a new kind of safari experience—one that honoured the elemental beauty of Laikipia while elevating it with modern comfort and layered storytelling. Every decision, from layout to palette, was informed by the distinctive rock outcrops, resilient flora, and elusive species like wild dog and black leopard.
THE INSPIRATION
Every decision, from layout to palette, was informed by the distinctive rock outcrops, resilient flora, and elusive species like wild dog and black leopard. The architecture by Nicholas Plewman Architects and Michaelis Boyd Architects responds directly to the site. The buildings, conceived as sculptural rock clusters, sit gently on the land, softened with layered planting that echoes the greenery growing in stone fissures and follows the ridgelines of the landscape.
The lodge's warm interiors are a tribute to the local wildlife, with colour palettes and finishes inspired by the African wild dog and the elusive black leopard. The spaces are deeply comfortable, capturing the history, culture, and laid-back mood of safari on the Laikipia Plateau. To achieve this, we focused on sourcing and making as much as possible in Kenya—telling a truly Kenyan story. Our commitment to sustainability is evident in “invisible architecture,” the use of solar power for 80% of its energy needs, and water sourced from a borehole. Local craftsmanship is celebrated through furniture and fittings made by Kenyan artisans, incorporating Samburu artefacts and beadwork.
THE RESULT
The result is a thoughtful reimagining of contemporary safari luxury. Boldly contextual, quietly confident, and intimately connected to its setting, it’s a place that celebrates the elements—rock, light, air, fire—and the stillness found between them. The thoughtful design ensures that every element, from the contemporary architecture in a unique rocky setting to the serene interiors underpinned by sustainable practices, gives guests a profound sense of place immersed in the heart of Laikipia.
