From 2014 to 2018, Localworks/Studio FH Architects was involved in a continuous improvement and enlargement exercise of four high-end lodges in Uganda and Rwanda. The lodges – Mount Gahinga Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge and Virunga Lodge – belong to Volcanoes Safaris, a leading luxury lodge company specialising in high-end gorilla and chimpanzee tourism in Uganda and Rwanda.
Our scope of service ranged from conceptual to detailed design and a regular senior presence on site to supervise the works and coordinate the in-house construction team. Projects completed include the Dian Fossey Map Room and a new Health Spa at Virunga; a complete refurbishment of the Main Building as well as the construction of a new Health Spa at Bwindi; improvements to the Main Building at Gahinga; and a far-ranging upgrade of Main Building and Bandas at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
A special part of the cooperation between Volcanoes Safaris and Localworks was the design and construction of a village for a group of Batwa in Gahinga. The project entailed low-cost housing as well as a community centre the design of which was inspired by the traditional Batwa forest dwelling. Localworks provided the services for the Batwa project on a pro-bono basis.
