AW2 designs tented camp in Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley

French architecture studio AW2, led by Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, has been selected by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) to design a luxury tented resort on an untouched site in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley.

Operated under Accor’s Banyan Tree brand, the development will comprise 47 new tented suites – the first cluster are scheduled to open in Q1 2021, adding to 35 existing suites positioned on a neighbouring site to bring the total number of units up to 82 – a spa and several gourmet restaurants, all of which will pay homage to the picturesque surroundings with architecture that epitomises AW2’s light-touch approach.

“Our concept involves harnessing the natural beauty of the landscape with a project that seamlessly integrates into the site,” say Ledoux and Amalou. “It is a reflection of the ‘intelligence of the site’ – a design that is adapted and adaptable to the cultural, historical and natural specificities of Ashar.”

Guided by the RCU’s sustainable development strategy as well as the Vision 2030 programme, the concept aims to integrate and respond to Saudi Arabia’s future ambitions. Preserving the heritage wealth of the site is at the forefront of the project, together with achieving long-term tourism and economic goals for the region.

“Our architecture responds to the fragility of the Ashar site and aims not only to restore but also to protect it from future harm by consciously addressing the balance of man and nature,” add Ledoux and Amalou.

Set within the Saudi Arabia’s north-western desert, AlUla is a considered a living museum with more than 200,000 years of human history. The Ashar Resort, located 15km from Hegra – the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage site – was selected by the RCU to develop the region into a sought-after tourist destination.