Tim Beddow interviews Mary Greenwell, Owner of El Yafir, a private house in Shela village, on Lamu Island off the coast of Kenya.
Mary explains how she came to Shela Village with Anna and Tonio Trebinski in the mid 90s and slowly, after a number of visits, the village got under her skin. Curtesy of architect Claudio Modola, the house was built at the permission of village elders, who agreed for building materials to be built around the main square in exchange for corals blocks that would go on to build a new mosque nearby. ‘I was lost for words,’ says Mary upon seeing the finished house, ‘it was more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined.’
This story makes for an interesting read. If you’re interested in a luxury beach and cultural holiday to Lamu Archipelagos then please do get in touch and one of our destination specialists would be happy to talk through possibilities.