Context
The client plans to develop a 75-acre eco-resort with 3km of lakefront, prioritizing locally sourced materials and a minimal environmental footprint. Focused on creating a rustic, technology-free camp-like experience, the resort aims to disconnect guests from city life and foster a deep connection with nature.
Site Information
The site is in Buikwe District, 30 minutes from Jinja City, Uganda, It is a rocky woodland site that sits at a 1,300m elevation. It has a tropical climate with year-round sun and rain, and temperatures ranging from 18°C to the mid-20s.
Brief
The client seeks an eco-friendly bar that integrates seamlessly with the resort’s ethos, using local materials and maintaining a light site footprint. It should maximize lake views without being overly dominant while providing secure storage, essential amenities, and restrooms to accommodate high foot traffic.
Design Proposal
The bar is crafted from locally sourced eucalyptus timber, mud bricks, and stone in order to align with Nyenga Eco Resort’s ethos and blend sustainability with its natural surroundings. Despite its compact footprint, it efficiently houses a bar, outdoor seating, storage and toilets, offering a versatile and inviting space for guests. Its open curved form will maximize the tropical Eastern Ugandan climate, capturing views of Lake Victoria and the cooling North-East breeze, to create a lively yet relaxing dining experience.
The stone used for the foundation and the cladding is all sourced from the site. The 70 acre site bears a cliff that is drapped in stones all initally broken and sold by the locals.
The timber used to build the roof and the deck is sourced locally as well from the owner’s Eucalyptus Forest about an hour away from the site
