An architectural jewel emerges in Laikipia, at andBeyond Suyian Lodge
Designed through a unique collaboration between Michaelis Boyd Architects, Nicholas Plewman Architects and hospitality design studio Fox Browne Creative, andBeyond Suyian Lodge is a striking addition to the region’s rich safari heritage
WORDS BY ANDREW WAKEM
Set against the dramatic backdrop of northern Kenya’s Laikipia plateau, andBeyond Suyian Lodge is a striking addition to the region’s rich safari heritage. Nestled within the Suyian Conservancy, north of Mount Kenya, the lodge occupies a unique position on an escarpment with panoramic views of the ancient Suyian rock sanctuary and sweeping vistas to the south toward Mount Kenya. This exceptional setting has informed every aspect of the lodge’s design and placement, with the terrain itself dictating the architectural response.
andBeyond’s Suyian Lodge is the result of a collaborative vision between leading architectural and design practices. Michaelis Boyd, appointed in September 2022 following their celebrated work across Kenya, led the design alongside Nicholas Plewman Architects. The interior vision was shaped by Fox Brown Creative, while the landscape was sensitively crafted by Tufaha Africa. Construction began in March 2024 and, after 16 months of building in one of Africa’s most remote and ecologically sensitive environments, the lodge is now open for guests to check in.
This project marks a continued partnership between andBeyond and Michaelis Boyd, following successful collaborations at Sandibe and Kichwa Tembo in Kenya, and Benguerra Lodge in Mozambique. The brief for Suyian called for a destination that celebrated the wild spirit of Laikipia while treading lightly on the land. One of the area’s most distinctive natural features is its population of elusive black leopards, rarely seen elsewhere, making Suyian a site of both ecological and experiential significance.
Guests arriving at the lodge are welcomed into a main building that serves as both a hub and a sanctuary. This includes a bar, restaurant, lounge, outdoor terrace, boutique, and a map room. A unique feature is the Black Leopard Room – an editing suite where guests can review and process their photography, a nod to the site’s extraordinary wildlife encounters. A short walk away, the pool area offers expansive views and restful indulgence, complete with a pool bar, daybeds, and a cooling deck.
Wellness is thoughtfully integrated, with a separate complex housing two treatment rooms, a sauna, a cold plunge, and a yoga and gymnasium space. Fourteen standalone one-bedroom villas and a larger two-bedroom villa are dotted discreetly across the escarpment, each strategically oriented to capture the sunrise and maximize privacy. The villas feature domed ceilings in their living and bedroom spaces – an architectural homage to the forms of the surrounding rock sanctuary – while the bathrooms offer expansive views, deep stone bathtubs, circular skylit showers, and even a “loo with a view.” The ceilings between the domes are vaulted to continue the curved language of the architecture. Each villa also boasts a private plunge pool, a terrace, indoor and outdoor living spaces, and a fully stocked bar and coffee station.
Sustainability lies at the heart of Suyian. The lodge is entirely off-grid, powered by solar energy, with water sourced from boreholes, and waste water through onsite filtration and reuse systems. Food waste is composted, and the surrounding landscape has been rewilded with indigenous planting. Green roofs not only insulate but also help the lodge visually recede into the escarpment, continuing the architects’ ambition to embed the building within its natural environment.
Materials were selected with a deep respect for place and climate. Locally sourced stone cladding reduces emissions and echoes the rocky topography. External domes are rendered with earth taken directly from the site, blending seamlessly with the surrounding geology. Interiors are finished in lime plaster, polished concrete, and timber – used extensively in wellness areas. All the doors and shutters are made of Crittall to follow the delicacy of the design.
Ceilings in the main areas feature timber lathes, continuing fluidly to the outdoor pergolas and shaded terraces. The architecture draws on a language of arches and circular forms, expressing a harmonious rhythm that balances protection and openness.
The masterplan accounts for wildlife movement and proximity, encircling the lodge with a low-impact elephant fence to protect the structures while allowing other animals – giraffes, lions, zebras, leopards, and elephants – to wander freely up to its edges. The architecture’s relationship with the land is not only aesthetic but also ecological, with careful siting and construction practices minimizing visual and environmental impact.
THE SPACE
Owner Suyian Conservancy Trust
Operator andBeyond
Amenities Indoor and outdoor restaurants, bar, lounge, library, map room, wellness including gym and pool
Keys 15 villas
PROJECT TEAM
Architecture Michaelis Boyd, Nicholas Plewman Architects
Interior design Fox Brown Creative
Landscape design Tufaha Africa
Conservation consultants Space for Giants
Lighting design Lighting Solutions Kenya
Engineering Continental Consultants LLP (structural), ARAW Design (MEP)
Contractor Northscape
KEY SUPPLIERS
Furniture Belle Furniture, Authenteak, High Thorn, Njena, Italian Design
Outdoor Kaa Hapa, Afro Dutch, Sunnydaze
Bathroom Stone Arts
Soft furnishing Hertex, Evolution Product, Ginger Cat, Jireh Hand Woven Craft
Lighting Creative Innovations, Design Africa, High Thorn
Other Ceramiqa Pottery (crockery), Hadithi Crafts (styling baskets), Interior Solutions (mosquito nets), Kitengela Glass (bespoke glassware), Rusty Fundi (windows, doors, and guest area fireplaces), Ironwood Africa (guestroom fireplaces)
Related Articles
Leaders: How Maud Bailly is guiding Sofitel into its next chapter
Sofitel’s CEO Maud Bailly is redefining French-rooted luxury for a new era – balancing heritage...
Read more
Inside Issue 60, from the Editor
Spring is the season of awakening, and this issue marks a season of change for SPACE. It is our fir...
Read more
Visionaries: Stephanie Barba Mendoza on building a hospitality design studio with soul
Six years ago, Stephanie Barba Mendoza was perfectly happy. Then she left one of London's most admi...
Read more
Make sure you don't miss a single issue of SPACE by subscribing to receive the magazine. Click the button above to signup.
