Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) selected French architectural firm AW2 to design a glamping resort, the first of its kind in the kingdom. According to AW2’s Stéphanie Ledoux, who told Dezeen, the inspiration for the design and architecture of the Ashar Tented Resort suites “starts with the simple rectangular shape of the Bedouin tent, with its adjustable canvas to maximise cooling and provide shade”. The 47 new ultra-luxury glamping suites, spread over a 10,800m2 site, will be added to the existing Ashar Resort. 28 of them will be one-bedroom, 15 will be two-bedroom and four will be three-bedroom. As Ledoux explains, their configuration includes “all the modern functions of a luxury hotel room, while maintaining maximum contact with the surrounding nature“.
The ultimate goal of AW2’s designs is to preserve the natural beauty and rich heritage of the site. To integrate the glamping tents into the landscape of the Ashar Valley, the architects have used a neutral colour palette that reflects the tones of the desert sands. Under the structure of Bedouin tents, the new suites will be built with compressed earth bricks and mortar composed of local clays. They are also environmentally efficient, as they will be naturally cooled in the same way as Bedouin tents, thanks to the separation between the roof and the canvas. In addition, the suites will have complementary facilities such as gourmet restaurants, a spa with a swimming pool amidst natural rocks, landscaped pavilions, and so on.
The Ashar Tented Resort, which is currently under construction, is part of the RCU’s activities. Its function is precisely to preserve and develop the 2,000-year-old archaeological and historical site of Al-Ula in the province of Medina in north-western Saudi Arabia. At the same time, it is part of the overall Vision 2030 plan, which aims to develop tourism in the country. Located just 15 km from the ancient city of Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, Ashar Tented Resort will operate under the Banyan Tree brand.
