andbeyond: ngorongoro crater lodge, tanzania...perched at the crater of the world heritage protected ngorongoro crater in the unspoiled greenery of tanzania, the cluster of lodges puts vernacular tectonics in dialogue with the exuberant and opulent. the result is a luxurious palette of typically african mud plaster walls, elegantly layered banana leaf ceilings and cooling makhuti palm roofs. roof forms are informed by conical masaai volumes; stilted construction and soaring rustic turrets are typical of west african mali design. interior furnishings are a richly hued collection of trinkets that express the whimsy of a bygone era. the synthesis of the two design languages is the work of architect sylvio rech and designer chris browne, although the built form primarily serves the greater aim of framing lines of sight and panoramic perspectives of the vast ngorongoro crater, the world's largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. rooms are positioned to show the full splendor of the landscape-wide cavity and ample floor-to-ceiling glazing allows uninterrupted views of the impressive architecture of the earth.