The Red Sea Development Company (TRDSC) has officially unveiled the design plans for its new Saudi Arabian mountain resort named Desert Rock, with work from Oppenheim Architecture (OA) having already begun. Owing to OA’s philosophy to “build with the land, not on it,” the resort is designed to protect and preserve the environment.
“We wanted to create a destination that allows guests to experience Saudi Arabia’s untouched beauty. Desert Rock will provide guests with uninterrupted spectacular views while preserving the natural landscape for future generations to enjoy,” said John Pagano, CEO at TRSDC.
Part of the regenerative tourism project known as The Red Sea Project, Desert Rock seeks to provide a luxurious destination where guests can connect with nature, history and culture, respectfully and sustainably.
For this reason, materials excavated from the site will be re-used in the creation of the hotel, with the extracted stone being used for walls and floors, while sand and crushed rock find their way into the conglomerate concrete that will be used throughout the construction.
As part of TRSDC’s commitment to regenerative tourism, Desert Rock will also be designed to achieve the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification level.
Regenerative Construction Reopens the Landscape
The sustainable architecture principles used in Desert Rock’s construction underlies the regenerative and preservation efforts its presence hopes to have on the Arabian landscape.
In addition to reducing energy consumption, the construction of the resort is also designed to help regrow native flora that has long been absent from the region. Water retention systems will help redistribute rainwater throughout the area to help contribute to a greener, brighter area.
The project also aims to maintain the ancient history of the site by hiring members of the local community to act as stewards of the land and provide educational tours for visitors about the local history of the area.
In addition, all roads leading into the resort will be pushed back to the furthest fringes of the valley, hidden behind landscaped mounds to minimize light and noise pollution entering the region.
“Desert Rock is one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world, which is why we wanted to use the architecture as a way to honor and respect it. By utilizing natural materials and integrating the resort into the rock, guests can connect physically with the destination and experience Saudi Arabia’s stunning, natural beauty,” said Chad Oppenheim, Founder of Oppenheim Architecture.
Preservation of the Landscape Opens Boundless Opportunities for Exploration
As guests stay amongst the 48 villas and 12 hotels rooms, they will also be able to choose from a variety of amenities that emphasize health, wellbeing and deeper connection to the natural landscape.
Guests can hike the local landscape and ride across the sands on dune buggies before relaxing at the world class spa and engaging in a pristine destination dining experience. Just as the land opens up to them through the day, the sky will then open up in the evening, with star gazing and more rounding out the activities on offer.
Once complete in 2030, the entire TRSDC project will comprise will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, leisure facilities and an international airport.
