NJF Design creates thatched resort surrounded by dunes in Mozambique

Thatched beachfront bungalows overlook the Indian Ocean from this hotel named Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique, which was built in tandem with a marine conservation centre.

The Kisawa Sanctuary occupies 300 hectares of forest, dunes and beachfront on the southern tip of Benguerra Island, which lies 14 kilometres from the Mozambique mainland.

The Kisawa Sanctuary sits at the southern tip of Benguerra Island

It is the first hospitality project created by entrepreneur Nina Flohr, whose studio NJF Design collaborated with skilled local weavers, thatchers and carpenters to realise the project.

Opened in November 2021, the hotel comprises 22 suites in 12 thatch-topped villas arranged within the dunes.

The residences were built along the beach and in the dunes

"Some lie on the calmer cove side, others shelter in the dunes on the ocean side, yet all are carefully positioned within their own secluded plot; providing maximum privacy and optimum appreciation of the natural environment," said the hotel's team.

Built without the use of heavy machinery, the wooden structures across the site are thatched and clad in a variety of styles based on the regional vernacular.

The bungalows feature woven doors that slide to open up the rooms

Guest bungalows are shaped like long villas and covered with wavy patterned roofs, echoing the form of waves.

Inside they have mottled plaster walls and wooden floors covered with large rugs. Colourfully printed textiles add warmth and variety to the neutral decor.

Neutral decor is accented with patterned textiles and African artefacts

Woven-grass door panels slide across to open up bedrooms and bathrooms to living areas and the outdoors, allowing breezes to pass through.

Timber decking wraps around the bungalows, and forms paths to further terraces that support cabanas and surround swimming pools.

Each bungalow has access to a private beach

Locally made contemporary furnishings are mixed with crafts and artefacts from across Africa to lend an authentic feel to the interiors.

The communal dining spaces across the resort have a similar design treatment, and serve traditional cuisine made from fresh seafood and produce, with a zero-waste policy and using no processed ingredients.

The property includes a wellness centre formed from a cluster of conical volumes

A wellness centre hidden in the dunes is formed from clusters of thatched round volumes with conical tops.

Alongside the hotel, Flohr also launched the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies – a research hub for ocean conservation.

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Read:

Minimalist hotel in Mozambique dominates at AHEAD MEA 2021 awards

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"Their parallel operations create a new, symbiotic business model whereby for-profit hospitality contributes directly to non-profit marine science and research," said the team.

Resort guests are able to participate in the research efforts through activities like excursions on the research vessel, which is used for tagging and monitoring local shark populations.

"The pairing of cultural celebration and environmental conservation at Kisawa presents a new, forward-looking narrative for both Mozambique and island escapes," the team said

Local thatchers covered the building using a traditional regional technique

Located in the south-east of the African continent Mozambique is growing in popularity as a tourist destination. Sussurro, a series of private bungalows in the southern part of the country, took home three prizes at the AHEAD MEA 2021 awards.

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Estudio ALA designs El Perdido Hotel with rammed earth walls and thatched roofs

Estudio ALA used thatched roofs and rammed-earth walls for this hotel in Pescadero on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.

Located outside a small agricultural town named El Pescadero, the new El Perdido Hotel was recently completed by Mexican architectural office Estudio ALA.

It is located 800 metres from the Pacific Ocean amidst farmland that is used to grow basil, chillies, tomatoes and strawberries.

Some of the hotel's walls can be fully opened for cross-ventilation

The hotel's stated goal is to foster the local area's way of life, so Estudio ALA wanted to use traditional construction techniques and materials.

"In a region where the corrosion of culture and tradition is being accelerated by rapid development, El Perdido embraces Baja California Sur's historical roots and material culture," said the practice.

"It provides a glimpse to the past while suggesting a potential design language for the future."

The architects employed local craftsmen and traditional building techniques

Rather than combine all of the hotel's rooms into a single building, the architects laid out guest quarters throughout the site.

They're laid out around a communal area, which includes the lobby and restaurant.

The smaller outbuildings feature rammed earth walls and timber-hewn roofs covered in thatch.

"This palette, typically disregarded in contemporary development for imported materials and tropical vegetation, is defined exclusively by locally sourced materials and built by local craftsmen," said Estudio ALA.

An observation tower forms part of the El Perdido Hotel complex

These contain the guest suites, which are appointed with their own lounge areas, a dining table, and kitchenette, making them feel more like standalone residential units than hotel rooms.

El Perdido Hotel's communal areas have no walls, allowing for natural ventilation and extending the functional spaces outdoors.

Between the buildings, local vegetation provides a lush backdrop to the pared-back and earthy interiors.

The architects used neutral tones and natural materials throughout the guest suites

Other communal spaces include a sunken conversation pit with a water feature and a chapel. The interiors feature natural materials, leaving the massive timber frame exposed and using hand-made wood finishes.

A tall, hourglass-shaped structure provides a lookout point for guests to take in the surrounding landscapes and views of the Pacific Ocean.

A shallow pond surrounded by local plants is a central feature of the landscape

The landscape was designed to use exclusively endemic plants and cacti, which require less maintenance amidst the area's dry climate and the typical temperature variations of a desert climate.

"The buildings are configured to maximize efficiency while ensuring a constant dialogue between the interior space and the surrounding landscape," said Estudio ALA.

"The result is a permeable building where the limits between the indoor and the outdoor vanish," they added.

The architects extended the living spaces outdoors to make the most of the area's climate

Estudio ALA was established in Guadalajara in 2012 by architects Luis Enrique Flores and Armida Fernández. They have also completed a minimalist chapel for the employees of a tequila factory in their city.

Other projects in the Baja California peninsula include a brutalist hotel with curved concrete walls by architects Ruben Valdez and Yashar Yektajo, and Nobu Hotel's first location in Mexico designed by WATG and Studio PCH.

The photography is byIwan Baan.

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Project credits:

Client El Perdido

Architects Estudio ALA Luis Enrique Flores & Armida Fernandez

Landscape Architect Fletcher Phillips

Interior Design Lasal

Design Concept & Branding Jorge Martinez

Procurement Daniela interior design

Contractor Dylcor Construction

Jacales Wall Art Rodrigo Roji & Cristian Poire

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