Thornybush Game Lodge

Bespoke library cabinet showcasing local flora and fauna

Location Thornybush Reserve, South Africa
Client Artichoke Interiors
Sector Game Lodge
Year 2023

Bespoke library cabinet showcasing local flora and fauna specimens. Guests interact with exhibits for a life-like nature experience and educational opportunity, transforming the lodge library into a destination in its own right.

The Brief

Artichoke Interiors approached us to create a signature piece for the Thornybush Game Lodge library - something that would captivate guests and extend the safari experience beyond the game drive vehicle.

The vision was a bespoke cabinet of curiosity that would showcase the biodiversity of the Thornybush Reserve, giving guests the opportunity to engage with specimens up close and learn about the ecosystem they were visiting.

Thornybush library cabinet overview

Our Approach

We designed an interactive library cabinet that encourages hands-on exploration. Each drawer and compartment contains carefully curated specimens - from pressed botanical samples to detailed fauna illustrations - arranged to tell the story of the reserve's interconnected ecosystems.

The cabinet was crafted to feel both timeless and tactile, inviting guests to open, touch, and discover. Every specimen is labelled with its common and scientific name, creating an educational layer that enriches the lodge experience.

Cabinet detail showing specimens
Full view of the Thornybush library installation

The completed library cabinet at Thornybush Game Lodge

The Craft

The library cabinet project involved meticulous attention to detail:

  • Bespoke hardwood cabinet with hand-finished compartments and drawers
  • Curated collection of local flora specimens, pressed and preserved
  • Detailed fauna illustrations capturing the reserve's key species
  • Interactive elements designed for guest engagement and discovery
  • Custom printed map tiles of the Thornybush Reserve concession area

Every element was designed to withstand the daily interaction of curious guests while maintaining the quality and beauty expected of a luxury lodge environment.

Craftsmanship detail

The Impact

The library cabinet has become one of the most photographed and talked-about features at Thornybush Game Lodge. Guests spend time exploring the specimens between game drives, and guides use the cabinet as a reference point for deeper conversations about the local ecology.

Project Details

  • Cabinet: Solid hardwood with hand-rubbed oil finish
  • Specimens: Pressed flora under archival glass, fauna illustrations on cotton rag
  • Map tiles: Custom printed ceramic tiles with reserve cartography
  • Hardware: Brass drawer pulls and hinges, custom designed
  • Glazing: UV-protective glass for specimen preservation
  • Brief & Discovery: 2 weeks
  • Concept Development: 3 weeks
  • Production: 6 weeks
  • Shipping & Installation: 1 week
  • Total Project Duration: 12 weeks

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