ANDBEYOND - KIRKMAN'S KAMP - SABI SAND GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA
It was essential for us to retain the spirit and modernise it but still keep the sense that this was Harry Kirkman's home.
THE BRIEF
Kirkman's design brief was to give the old farmstead buildings a facelift but not mess with the spirit and character of the much loved "old world" Kirkman's Kamp. Working to a limited budget, we kept the existing colour palette throughout but added some modern accessories.
THE INSPIRATION
Located high on a ridge of the world-famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve, overlooking the magnificent Sand River, the lodge is rich in history boasting a world-class safari experience. Therefore, it was essential for us to retain the spirit and modernise it but still keep the sense that this was Harry Kirkman's home. We drew our inspiration from the existing camp, with its old-world feel and its sense of provenance.
THE RESULT
The guest areas remained much the same with a restyled bar now formally renamed as "Paul’s Pub" after Steven Saad, the current owner's dad. The dining room had the most impactful intervention, with the addition of a coffee bar and house kitchen, bringing a previously unused space alive. The sitting room was also restyled and updated with some contemporary furniture additions.
The bedrooms feature new wallpaper murals depicting a bushveld Savannah scene with new wardrobes, personal bars and outdoor seating. The most significant statement was the bathrooms where baths were removed and replaced with large showers and double marble vanities. The bathroom finishes are "1920's” in their design thinking, using embossed tiles, ribbed glass and marble.
We feel that we managed to retain the bits that everyone loved but at the same time made it feel contemporary and current.
