Jolie aims to create African safari feel at The Reserve hotel in Chester Zoo

Giraffes, zebras and other forms of African wildlife wander near the rooms at The Reserve, a safari-style hotel that design studio Jolie has conceived for Chester Zoo in the English county of Cheshire.

Set within the zoo on a savannah-inspired plot of land where the animals are left free to roam, The Reserve comprises 51 private accommodation lodges and a communal space called the Welcome Lodge that hosts a restaurant and lounge.

The non-profit hotel will allow guests to get a closer look at some of the zoo's animals and behind-the-scenes duties of staff, plus support the zoo's conservation efforts – each stay directly funds work to protect endangered species across Africa.

When London and Manchester-based studio Jolie was tasked with devising The Reserve's interiors, the brief outlined that the hotel should look "subtly luxurious" and – in spite of its location – have the feel of a traditional safari lodge.

"Chester isn't quite the African Savannah, so we were mindful of capturing the essence of a safari lodge without it feeling unnatural or overly set-like," the studio's founder, Franky Rousell, told Dezeen.

"We wanted to create that sense of escape and quiet luxury you'd expect from a safari lodge, but reinterpret it in a way that feels authentic to a UK setting. The interiors needed to sit naturally within the landscape, without feeling overly 'new' or out of place."

The studio therefore decorated the lodges with earthy tones and textures evocative of African safaris and their surrounding terrains, drawing inspiration from venues such as the Sandibe Okavango lodge in Botswana.

Plaster walls in the bedrooms are a shade of terracotta, while the beds are dressed in dusky pink and burnt-orange linens.

These are accompanied by patterned cushions that the studio sourced from Coral + Hive, a Cape Town-based brand that partners with local weavers to produce its textiles.

In the adjoining living rooms, sand-coloured sofas sit beside leafy potted plants and marble coffee tables. VIP lodges each have their own terrace, to which Jolie has added wooden dining tables and chairs.

The terraces also feature copper tubs where guests can bathe alfresco with a view of The Reserve's grounds.

A variety of African grasses have been planted around the Welcome Lodge. Inside, the studio has applied a mix of navy and midnight blue hues that are meant to "capture the feeling of stargazing over the savannah".

"Jolie interiors are always led by sensory considerations," added Rousell. "We want the design experience to be immersive and emotionally transformative, even if guests don’t even notice it is happening."

Rousell established Jolie in 2017, and since then, the studio has completed several other hospitality projects.

Recent examples include The Nest, a temporary restaurant in Frankfurt, which has lightweight materials and modular fittings so that it can be easily relocated in the future.

The photography is by Jasper Fry.

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