540 FIVE OF THE BEST: Gems of Kenyan architecture

FIVE OF THE BEST:

Gems of Kenyan architecture

If you have a taste for beautiful architecture and want to find the best spots for that Instagram-worthy picture during your travels, then you’re in luck. 540 has handpicked five of the most wonderfully different buildings across Kenya.

WATAMU TREEHOUSE, WATAMU

©Watamu Treehouse, Photo: Neil Thomas

1. WATAMU TREEHOUSE, WATAMU

Many local people as well as visitors flock to the regular yoga classes and retreats held at the exceptional Watamu Treehouse in the peaceful town of Watamu, on the coast about 100 km north of Mombasa. The treehouse itself is built in harmony with the lush natural surroundings of Watamu Beach and the mangrove forest that lines the coast. The handcrafted house is a peaceful haven with a focus on well-being where guests can enhance their mental, emotional and physical health. Each guest room is spacious and open with a unique architecture and decor. Owing to the individuality of the rooms, members of staff do their best to match each room to the needs of individual guests. In addition to retreats and overnight stays, Watamu Treehouse plays host to weekday yoga classes, all year round, which are open to visitors and to the local community. These classes are held in the rooftop yoga studio – the highest point in Watamu with all-round views – or in the peaceful new yoga studio in the forest. The treehouse also offers yoga classes on stand-up paddle boards for those with experience or looking for a new challenge. Guests can also experience nature at its finest on one of the treehouse’s kayak, paddle boarding or walking expeditions, or simply relax by the pool or have a massage or pedicure. There’s also a pop-up vegan restaurant at the treehouse on Wednesday and Saturday evenings (pre-booking required).

Find out more at www.treehouse.co.ke

2. NAY PALAD BIRD NEST, LAIKIPIA

Located on the wild plains of Laikipia, the Nay Palad Bird Nest is a unique and quirky safari lodge. This luxurious property has all-round views and is built parallel to a river in an area well stocked with wildlife. This creative living space is the result of a collaboration between Segera and Nay Palad, who together with architect Daniel Pouzet created this magnificent raised suite that forms part of the Segera Retreat. The avian base is ideal for a one-night stay, offering a bedroom and bathroom equipped with solarheated running water. The Bird Nest is decked out with cosy decor, scatter cushions and slatted windows. Guests who prefer to sleep in the open air can expect a bed on the upper floor. The Bird Nest is the creation of Nay Palad founder Carolin Dekeyser, her father Bobby Deskeyser and Daniel Pouzet in association with Segera founder Jochen Zeitz.

Find out more at www.segera.com/nay-palad-bird-nest

3. AFRICA HERITAGE HOUSE, NAIROBI

African Heritage House, overlooking Nairobi National Park, was designed by Alan Donovan, the American co-founder of the African Heritage Pan African Gallery, who moved to Kenya over 50 years ago. The house has a style that reflects the traditional mud architecture of Africa and features large African patterns. This style is described in ‘Architectural Digest’ as “an architecture arising from the sere Kenyan plain like an outcropping of earth, a vision of usefulness informed by the African genius for decoration”. Inside, visitors will find interesting textiles, masks, art, artefacts and crafts as well as bookstand photographs. The house is open to the public for tours, which cost about US$ 40 for up to five people. There’s an opportunity to have breakfast, lunch or dinner here, either on the rooftop or by the swimming pool. In addition, African Heritage House has luxurious rooms for guests who plan to stay overnight.

Find out more at www.africanheritagehouse.info

LORD EGERTON CASTLE, NAKURU DISTRICT

Martin Mwaura / Shutterstock.com

4. LORD EGERTON CASTLE, NAKURU DISTRICT

Lord Egerton Castle, located 14 km outside Nakuru, is a property dating from 1938. Its foundations were laid by the English aristocrat Maurice Egerton, who was granted land in Ngata near Nakuru. The architect Robert Brown designed the castle in a distinctly English style to reflect Egerton’s heritage. The castle’s impressive, well-manicured grounds provide a perfect background for picnics, weddings and events. Egerton Castle is open to visitors daily from 7 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm for an admission fee of about US$ 12 for adults who are non-residents with the option to go on a guided tour and learn about the castle’s rich history. Within its walls are more than 50 rooms, many of them filled with trinkets and wall mountings that tell a story. There is a small onsite canteen for visitors.

5. KITENGELA HOT GLASS BY ANSELM CROZE, NAIROBI

Anselm’s Hot Glass studio is located in a planetarium dome bordering Nairobi National Park. The building itself has a unique and enchanting design, like a wonderful picture in a children’s storybook. It’s easy to lose yourself for an hour or so in admiring the gardens, where blownglass ornaments hang from above, but the main attraction is inside, where you can see demonstrations of glass blowing. The studio is open to the public all day, seven days a week, with glass blowing demonstrations from 9 am to 1 pm on Sundays and Mondays and from 8 am to 4.30 pm during the rest of the week. The skilled craftsmen create blown and cast objects, make beads from recycled glass and even make chandeliers, furniture and colourful eco-friendly panels that can be used for architectural installations. Their craftwork can be purchased at a reasonable price and there is also a visitors’ café serving drinks and snacks.

Find out more at www.kitengela.com