The Coot Club

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Kritzinger Architects were appointed as Architects and Principal Agent for Coot Club, a boutique nature retreat comprising of a collection of eco-friendly boathouses near Stanford in the Western Cape, South Africa. The boathouses are set within a 460HA nature reserve along the banks of the Klein Rivier, with beautiful views over the lagoon and the Maanschynkop mountain range. Inspiration for the architecture was derived from the humble corrugated iron boat sheds found in the area, with particular reference to scale, form and simplicity of construction. The fragmented building form and ecological design strive to minimise the impact on the indigenous vegetation, allowing planting to grow around and beneath the elevated floor structure. The weathered grey colour, tones and textures of the boathouses were carefully considered to soften the visual impact when viewed from a distance, allowing the buildings to immerse into the landscape. The interior of each boathouse is uniquely furnished and painted in a palette of colours that reflect the environment and enhance the spirit of boathouse living. 

Coot Club won the i-ESCAPE 2023 Best Hotel Award and featured in the December 2022/23 Summer issue of House and Leisure.

Coot Club also won the Conde Naste Hotel Design of the Year Award 2024.