Nile Cottages

Located along the banks of the Nile in Uganda, this hospitality project consists of seven independent cottages designed to accommodate different types of guests, including family units, couples’ suites, and loft-style cabins. Developed as a personal architectural commission for Pesh and Dean Uganda, the proposal explores a balance between understated luxury and vernacular construction traditions through the use of locally sourced materials and low-impact interventions within the landscape. A central communal area integrates a swimming pool, gathering spaces, and a fire pit overlooking the surrounding natural scenery, creating a shared social core for the retreat. One of the primary design challenges was preserving the existing steep terrain with minimal excavation, leading to the development of an elevated circulation system composed of long timber walkways and lightweight metal-framed stairs weaving across the site. The cottages are characterized by large thatched roofs that reinterpret regional building techniques within a contemporary hospitality language, giving the project a warm and immersive atmosphere rooted in its local context while maintaining a refined architectural identity.