Perched on a lush hillside overlooking the landscape of Ruhengeri and the volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park, the Wilderness Bisate Reserve offers a different take on hospitality architecture.
Project Name: The Wilderness Bisate Reserve luxury resort
Studio Name: MOSO® Bamboo
Located in the heart of the Rwandan rainforest and close to the habitat of mountain gorillas, this unique lodge has been conceived as an extension of the surrounding landscape, combining architecture, comfort and sustainability through a carefully selected palette of natural materials, including MOSO® Bamboo. solutions, a leader in the development of innovative.
Surrounded by rainforest and with views of the six dormant volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park, the lodge has been designed as a natural extension of its setting. Thatch roofs, timber, woven elements and bamboo come together in an architectural language that seeks to blend seamlessly into the landscape and minimise the distance between guests and nature. The project, developed by architects Nicholas Plewman and Black Sable Architects, together with Artichoke Interior Design Studio, has been recognised for its design excellence with the Architectural Digest Great Design Hotel Award 2025, establishing it as one of the most outstanding examples of hospitality architecture integrated into nature.
The reserve comprises four private lodges, each featuring a bathroom, spacious living areas, panoramic viewing decks and private hot tubs, alongside shared wellness facilities including a spa and fitness area. Its privileged location also makes the resort an ideal base for exploring Volcanoes.
In this context, the choice of materials plays a fundamental role. They must not only meet the demands of an environment characterised by extreme climatic conditions, but also contribute to the warm, natural and sophisticated atmosphere that defines the project. “In a project such as Bisate Reserve, materials cannot be viewed purely from a functional perspective. Every surface forms part of the guest experience and should help create an authentic connection with the surrounding environment,” explains Antuanette Mac Wyne, MOSO® Bamboo Africa. “That is why, alongside durability and technical performance, it was essential that the selected solutions should be in keeping with the project’s sustainable philosophy and architectural language”.
Bamboo that withstands the climate without compromising on design
The flooring plays a particularly important role in achieving this balance. The resort’s interior and exterior surfaces are subject to intensive use as well as the conditions typical of a tropical rainforest: humidity, heavy rainfall and constant temperature changes. There is also a clear aesthetic requirement. The same surfaces that are used every day by guests wearing hiking boots on their excursions must, when experienced barefoot in the spa, convey a sense of comfort, warmth and connection with nature.
After considering different alternatives, the architects responsible for the project chose MOSO® Bamboo for both interior and exterior surfaces, based on the material’s technical performance as well as its ability to integrate seamlessly into the architectural concept of the resort. “We have maintained a trusted relationship with the architects responsible for the project for many years and know the high standards they expect from their projects,” says Mac Wyne. “At Bisate Reserve, they were looking for a material capable of withstanding particularly demanding environmental conditions while also meeting the architectural quality of the overall project. Bamboo allowed us to deliver both”.
The solution lies in MOSO® Bamboo’s manufacturing process. Moso bamboo undergoes heat treatment at 200°C, followed by a high-density compression process that significantly enhances its stability, strength and durability. The result is a material particularly well suited to demanding outdoor applications and capable of maintaining its performance without the need for regular treatment with fungicides or other chemicals. MOSO® Bamboo solutions also achieve the highest durability class and the European B-s1,d0 reaction-to-fire classification.
More than 1,100 m² of bamboo for interior and exterior applications
The choice of material has been applied throughout different areas of the resort through a range of MOSO® Bamboo solutions, each selected to meet the specific requirements of the space. The lodges’ outdoor terraces feature MOSO® Bamboo N-durance in a warm caramel tone that complements the natural materials used throughout the architecture. MOSO® Bamboo X-treme, in a dark brown tone, was selected for the spa, while the gym and fitness area feature the Ultra Density variant, specially developed to withstand high levels of use.
In total, the project incorporates approximately 1,100 m² of bamboo surfaces across both interior and exterior spaces. Beyond its strength and durability, the material helps create a coherent identity throughout the resort, visually connecting the different spaces with the surrounding landscape and reinforcing the sense of continuity between architecture and nature.
