Project Type //
Chronology//
January 2020 - Ongoing
Location //
Nyamasheke, Rwanda
Team//
Nerea Amoros Elorduy - Lead architect
Jonathan Kateega - Visualisations
Client//
Private
Description/
The plot is located amidst a working farm on the shores of lake Kivu on the Western region of Rwanda. The small guest house with only five rooms, aims at a farm to table experience where guests can enjoy the produce of the farm and their gardens, as well as learn from the coffee plantations that surround it, dip in the lake and even camp on its grounds in some areas reserved to that effect for larger groups, backpackers and families.
The idea behind the design of the guest house is to be able to absorve the stunning views of lake kivu and the DRC mountains, while keeping privacy for guests and enjoying the incredible sunrises and sunsets (especially those) over the lake. Hence on plan, the construction is organised as three hand fans or arches. One for the service areas on the east close to the main road entrance that contains apartments for service, laundry, storage, and Kitchen, with direct connection to the common area that includes a bar and sun downer chill out area, toilets, a chimney and sofas area, a terrace and bon fire, access to the lawns, main entrance and reception and dinning area. On the west, and left from the reception area is the rooms, each with its own small entrance, toilet, desk, sleeping area with king bed, balcony with views over the lake and outdoor showers.
The idea of the construction and the running of the guest house is to have a small ecologic footprint this affects the construction materials chosen (artisanal ceramic roof tiles, rammed earth walls and CEB walls, terracotta tiles and local stone for floors and local wood for furniture and openings), and the systems of water management, energy production and waste management. From the main common area the guests can descend through the terraced lawns (where people can camp and diverse lawn games are distributed) towards the dock over the lake where guests can swim, take a canoe or kayak and also boats can dock there if someone wishes to arrive on boat.
The large piece of land where the guest house sits will be as well as a working farm a test for coffee growing techniques, it will have macadamia nuts, avocados, bananas, pineapples, green beans, a kitchen garden just for the guest house as well as a web of paths for hiking and enjoying diverse indigenous plants, grasses and trees.