BUILD Home and Garden Awards 2023 16 returned to Maun to take over the company from Antonie Lamont. Under this new management, the company’s trading name changed to Lodge Builders Botswana, and so was the beginning of yet another expanding era which would reinstate it as the undisputed leader in the construction of lodges in the Delta. Due to the ever-increasing demands for quality and work output, Gideon Barnard, former director at Stefanutti Stocks in Botswana, was employed by LBB in 2014 on a consultant basis to reduce the pressure on top level management. In June 2016, Gideon took over the managing director role from Adriaan van der Merwe, a further step towards poising the company for yet another exciting era. Together with the appointment of Gideon, LBB created (and filled) a few other top and medium management posts to help the existing management team. Gideon tells us more about the team: “The company was the first to have a 100% Motswana workforce, trained inhouse, to carry out work that was previously done by expatriate contract workers. With numerous new generations of lodges springing up within the Delta, the company grew from strength to strength, delivering a highly professional product at a very cost-effective rate, and a the same time enriching the local community with skills and revenue.” Gideon continues, “Over time, we have built up tremendous experience in the art of lodge construction. We have been lucky enough to work with leading architects in the field, coupled with several safari companies, each coming together to bring their own style and interpretation of the Delta and all it has to offer.” Ultimately, the LBB team’s professional work ethic and end results have generated a wide base of returning clients. LBB is very proud to link its name to some of the most prestigious lodges in the Delta. Since its humble beginnings, LBB has grown in skill as well as workforce, but at its roots, its beliefs have remained untouched. LBB believes in a sustainable future, it believes in reuse where possible, and most importantly, it believes in letting nature speak for itself. Company: Lodge Builders Botswana Contact: Anja Barnard / Gideon Barnard Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Website: lodgebuildersbotswana.com t Lodge Building Botswana, it is believed that there is no better proof of a commitment to service than a project which demonstrates the integrity of the builder. What the team at LBB does is not unique, but what they believe in is unique: their commitment to honesty, timeliness, working within budget, genuine concern for the client, and ultimately, delivering projects to the highest standard. The services delivered by the LBB team are based on hands-on project management and service delivery, with their strength being in the ability to schedule concurrent short- and long-term construction activities, and then effectively manage contracts on time, within budget, and by never compromising on quality. LBB’s offering is flexible and efficient; with its mobile nature and sizeable workforce, the company is able to offer several options that its team can adjust in order to meet specific client needs and expectations. Essentially, they are able to carry out anything from demolitions, rebuilds or refurbishments of pre-existing structures to a complete turnkey design and build. Indeed, while LBB’s products and services are primarily aimed at the lodge industry, it is no stranger to home renovations and private construction projects, either. Where it all began It was back in 1993 that Ladybird Investment was established by director, Antonie Lamont. Based in Shakawe, it was a company focused on carpentry work for camps in the area such as Drotsky’s Cabins, Nxamaseri, and Shakawe fishing lodge. Then, it relocated to Maun in 1994 to launch a larger ‘lodge-oriented’ carpentry shop. As time went on, the demand for renovation grew, and the business gradually moved from being a small-scale workshop into full-scale construction. By 1996, the original carpentry shop had closed as Ladybird Investments accepted its first major contract to rebuild Savute Elephant Camp. This marked the birth of an entirely unique construction company. In the following years, the business became completely mobile, moving from site to site as needed and adapting to the specific challenges and requirements of a wild and untouched setting. The skills acquired through this form of construction allowed the company and its team to specialise in building in the Delta. Meanwhile, it was in 2005 that Adriaan van der Merwe, who was involved in the company from 1999 and a shareholder since 2002, Lodge building is a very specialised area of construction, and the team at Lodge Builders Botswana have all the experience, expertise, and commitment needed to deliver a quality project. Following the company’s double award win in the Home and Garden Awards 2023, we learn more about its extraordinary offering. A Feb23116 Best Luxury Lodge Builders 2023 – Africa & BUILD Innovation Award in Sustainable Building - Africa Lodge Builders Botswana
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