This beautiful eco-lodge is chiseled into the side of Wadi Rum’s dramatic red sandstone walls.
Chad Oppenheim’s design for an eco lodge in Jordan’s desert is absolutely breathtaking. Also called the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum resembles a martian landscape with its high red sandstone and granite walls.
The downside is that this beauty attracts a throng of tourists each year, making it difficult to maintain its authentic Bedouin roots. But this award-winning design manages the impossible without compromising the kind of luxury service upper class travelers have come to expect.
The premise behind the Oppenheim’s design (an acclaimed architect from Miami) is minimum effort and maximum effect. Although it is a five star lodge, great strides have been taken to make it as sustainable as possible.
In this case sustainability not only refers to the natural environment, which here is incredibly stressed, but also having little impact on the local culture. Oppeneheim attempts to respect the Bedouins who have lived among the red valley for eons with a discreet, hidden facility that doesn’t jut out too conspicuously.
Using concrete forms and a sliver of glass, the lodge will rely almost completely on the natural thermal mass, obviating the need for artificial cooling or heating. Water conservation and harvesting will also comprise an essential component of the Desert Lodge’s overall sustainability. It will be completed in 2014.
:: Wallpaper
More eco-tourism in the Middle East:
Morocco and Egypt Eye Eco-Tourism Markets
Jordan’s Feynan Eco-Lodge Named Top 50 In the World
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Wallpaper, is by far my most favorite design magazine. They have so many amazing ideas featured there.
It’s my new favorite too! Just stumbled on it yesterday. Also fell in love with BLDGBLOG!