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LEOBO PRIVATE RESERVE | VAALWATER

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Perched within the dramatic terrain of the Waterberg, Leobo Private Reserve is an immersive architectural expression where landscape, structure and finish are inseparable. Conceived by architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Cartens as both a safari retreat and a personal observatory, the architecture reaches outward; to the bush, the horizon and the sky, while remaining deeply anchored in its surroundings.

​At the heart of the experience is an uncompromising focus on material and texture. Colour Hardener Grey floors play a quiet but vital role, providing a grounding counterpoint to the expressive forms and handcrafted elements throughout.

​At Leobo, finishes are not decorative afterthoughts, they are integral to the story. Robust, elemental and quietly refined, they support an architecture that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship and an unfiltered connection to nature.
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In the open shower, the textured CemPlaster Pavero Brown walls capture and soften the light as it moves, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Showering beneath an open sky, surrounded by layered, hand-applied texture, becomes a sensory moment.

​CemWash Nutmeg coats the exterior walls. The coating's subtle tonal variation and tactile quality allows light, shadow and movement to become part of the architecture itself, shifting throughout the day as the sun arcs across the reserve.

Completed in 2013, this spacial design has proven itself timeless.

From the sculptural living spaces to the circular viewing deck, every surface contributes to a sense of cohesion and intent. Natural textures, raw materials and considered detailing work together to blur the boundary between built form and environment, allowing the architecture to feel grown from the landscape rather than placed upon it.
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CREDITS

Cemcrete Application | Colour Crete
​Architects | Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens
​Photograghs | Bureaux Editorial Agency & Leobo Private Reserve
Date | 2013