Wadi Rum Resort is a concept created by Florida-based Oppenheim Architecture + Design for an 80,000-square-foot hotel in Wadi Rum, Jordan that will become a reality in 2014, when the rock is cut away and rooms are built in its facade.
Wadi Rum, or The Valley of the Moon, is a stretch of desert in Jordan where there are rock formations and ancient rock paintings and carvings. With this resort, Oppenheim offers a harmonious unity between nature and man, working with the native materials and formations to guide their design.
I think this warrants a “I want to go to there.”
From the architects:
Here, where desert sand meets desert stone, we see a singular opportunity to devise a new contract between man and nature. Reinterpreting the way we have dealt with the earth, our proposal establishes a new benchmark for design, quality and sustainability in the natural environment. To live in harmony with the natural world, we must learn how to re-engage the land. Earnest and timeless, the architecture is simultaneously powerful, yet comfortable; primitive, yet innovative; casual, yet elegant; raw, yet refined. The built form merges silently with its wondrous setting, exploiting and enhancing the natural beauty of the site to establish luxury lodge accommodations – that are uniquely beautiful and luxurious. The resulting experience is sensual and sensitive, intentionally reduced to what is essential, establishing an ancient connection with the universe through simple, elemental forms, sincere materiality/detailing, and the use of bountiful natural resources both physical and ethereal. Nature accelerated, enhanced and embraced; nature nurtured.
The architecture we will humbly create within the realm of the Wadi is intended to miraculously and meticulously add another sound in a perfect symphony, another ingredient in a perfect dish. The conceptual point of departure has its roots in the tectonic and geological histories of the region. Through an engagement of the existing natural faults and fissures, the architecture is inserted in the landscape with nominal impact and primal elegance-synchronizing with the topography. Symbiotically and sensitively attuned to the rhythms of the area – a responsible stewardship of the environment. The boundaries between man-made and nature, interior and exterior are deliberately blurred establishing maximum effect with minimum affect. The lodges are nestled across the landscape — enhancing rather than distorting an awareness of the context. An enlightened new approach to living with the land and not simply upon it; learning anew how to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Beauty, power and humility is achieved through a profound understanding of flow, light and orientation with the topography-fermenting a relationship with the surrounding desert. Simplicity and functionality are inherent to the entire design– so that nothing distracts the eye. The lodges and villas in their various incarnations; rock lodge, spa lodge, tent lodge and reserve villa are all designed as spatial responses towards establishing a connection, not dislocation with the awe-inspiring planet we inhabit. Their architectonic form responds directly to the rich regional cues: an evolutionary process that has established, over millennia, a clear and appropriate type that is in resonance with nature.
More photos:
Rendering Credits: Luxigon
The Critical Eye on 05.06.2011 at 19:51 PM
i don’t just want to go there, i want to live there…what an amazing place
The Disgruntled Architect on 05.06.2011 at 21:41 PM
I see how this design is striking, especially as a rendering when Photoshop can create very dynamic enhancements; however, while it does convey a sense of power married with elegance and rawness I question whether this would ultimately convey this same aura in the true built environment. Additionally, the concept of nature ebbing and flowing over millennium and evolving a natural shape does not fit well with the actual design which is punctuated and distinctly carved. Again, while striking, the design does not convey the sense of harmony with nature as it is purported to; it is quite abruptly carved into an existing evolution. But it is thought provoking.
Zaid M on 06.30.2011 at 03:27 AM
I am an architect from Jordan and am passionate about Wadi Rum landscape. As a matter of fact we just got it inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. I think this design looks elegant in hyperspace, and the project philosophy is presumptuous. Ultimately, THIS PROJECT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER!. Please separate the majesty of the environment from what the design is doing when you look at this. The designer is deliberately destroying the very intricate and fragile rock formations that he is celebrating. This area is the most fragile ecosystem in Jordan, can you imagine how the construction process of carving out mountains will ruin the environment here. I design camps here, and we deliberately kept electricity out of the Wadi Rum protected area. Can you imagine the volume of garbage, waste and pollution going into the area as a result of this monstrosity (why are there no cars and busses showing in the renderings?) Please stop Sabih Masri from doing this disaster!
Abdul Razaq Garuba on 10.26.2012 at 17:38 PM
I couldn’t have put it any better. Man, please leave nature alone. You met these natural structures here. Go play your architectural and engineering ‘games’ somewhere else. Go create your own planet and then build your rock hotels there.
Stephen Elson on 05.08.2011 at 06:54 AM
Critical Eye, you are right this is an amazing place, and sadly one that I think will be absolutely ruined if this development goes ahead.
Most of Wadi Rum is officially designated a protected area by the (Jordanian) Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), and has strict zoning rules designed to protect the local environment and wildlife. I can only hope that this project is *outside* this zone.
The architects make grand claims of this being in “harmony” with nature, but from the renderings all I can see are huge caverns cut into the living rock. Once these artificial caves are created, there is no going back, they are there for *ever*. I hardly call that harmonious. Imagine what reception a proposal like this would have if it was transposed to a natural reserve in the USA or Great Britain. Cut huge gashes in the side of El Capitan? No thanks.
The RSCN has a series of projects around the country designed to promote ecologically sustainable tourism, anyone interested in seeing the spectacular scenery of Jordan would be well advised looking them up.
I had the privilege of staying in Wadi Rum for a week a few years ago, and it is an inspiring place. The towering Jebels are awe inspiring as they are, and for climbers, canyoneers and walkers offer a unique place to explore.
You might argue that this development will bring jobs to the area? Well that might be true, Wadi Rum village itself is not a rich place, but it would be possible to build a more sustainable and less permanently damaging hotel than these plans propose.
Keith Barrow on 05.08.2011 at 07:15 AM
I *like* the design, very clean and very striking, but I also hope it doesn’t get built.
Wadi Rum and Disi are largely unspoilt and your design cuts into the rock-face permanently changing it in an abrupt and arrogant fashion. Worse, your blurb states “To live in harmony with the natural world” and “The architecture we will humbly create within the realm of the Wadi” hardly lies true with permanently altering this timeless landscape in the manner proposed.
WTF on 05.08.2011 at 08:49 AM
So, excavating the hell out of some of the world’s most beautiful rock formations is now called “sustainability in the natural environment” and “to live in harmony with the natural world”. I’m appalled. Hopefully this never leaves the concept stage.
Augustine on 05.08.2011 at 10:57 AM
Wow! Amazing Design…. I like the natural integrated design.
A climber on 05.08.2011 at 13:58 PM
I can’t believe you seriously think it is a good idea to build a hotel in the cliffs at Wadi Rum. Who’s going to benefit from this? Certainly not the people who live in the area.
How can it be ok to do this in a fantastic unspoilt wilderness area in the Moddle East, yet for example, in Yosemite, there are objections to enlarging campsites?
Tyler on 05.08.2011 at 20:32 PM
Howard Roark would love this!
Iyan on 05.08.2011 at 21:18 PM
truly amazing!
sgl on 05.09.2011 at 16:19 PM
This will be a complete travesty if it goes ahead. I imagine that most of the people praising the design/idea/concept have never been to Wadi Rum/the desert or probably the outdoors in general…
Yes Rum village itself is not the the prettiest place in the world and the hundreds of jeep tours can be a little noisy but it is also one of the the most awe inspiring mountain landscapes anywhere and once the day trippers depart, you are left with a wonderful sense of calm and quiet.
What about damage to water table or water supplies elsewhere? As for a very dry desert environment there seems to be an awful lot of water incorporated into the design.
I sincerely hop the Jordanian government see sense and aren’t lured into ruining one of their crown jewels by promise of a quick buck
Steady on 05.12.2011 at 03:19 AM
This has already been done in Petra thousands of years ago, and much more tastefully, but that was an unsustainable development and so this will be too. Best to learn from the mistakes of the past and NEVER build it. Oh, and it’s a monstrous and extremely unharmonious design…and where does Oppenheim plan to get all that water from?
dio on 05.22.2011 at 17:42 PM
OBJECTION. Wadi rum is a natural/national reserve and probably (hopelfully) does not allow projects like this ( if ANY projects) in the aerea.inshallah
layal on 06.03.2011 at 04:29 AM
Though Oppenheim did a good job respecting the overall environment of the place, but i find the idea of building a five star hotel in the middle of the wadi rum appalling, silly and destructive of the nature.
wadi rum is an open desert with wild life, bedouin culture and only glowing stars at night,
why bring the destructive concrete constructions to such a wild beautiful place, it is again an flagrant example of how all we see in landmarks and beautiful nature spaces only a source of revenue and a globalized way to entertain through luxurious rooms, etc.
I feel sorry for the bedouins of the region being invaded by such a bland plain hotel culture!
norberf on 11.14.2011 at 20:59 PM
a preposterous piece of pretentious preening;
a phony Phoenician pastiche
Tony Akudinobi on 07.06.2012 at 02:07 AM
I read all comments with great interest and seriousness but my distilled opinion is based on definition of man’s relationship with nature.
Man;s existence on this planet Earth is dynamic,so as it unfolds it fuses in dynamic mutations or definitions to enhance,conquer,accent,validate a past to a present in a continuous dialogue to engage the future.
Wadi Rum as wonderful and breathtaking as it is, also defines its dialogue with man and in this dialogue man has to contribute based on his own definitions.
The core issues remain that God through times define a place and man walking this path(life)leaves footsteps or tracks on the journey(life) for the present and the future to dialogue with.
So let the Architects contribute to the everlasting dialogue for the future may see this as a rose growing on the Desert Rock
Caroline B on 09.08.2012 at 11:37 AM
I really hope this development is stopped. This is just criminal and will be be the equivilant of defacing a master peice. Jordan and especially Wadi rum is naturally beautiful. Why go there if you would stay in a place like this? If you are going to experiance Jordan, experiance it in its natural beauty. If you want something like this stay in las vegas.
This will have a negative impact on the local people and the culture there are trying so hard to protect. Respect the people and there history just like you want yours to be.
Seriously before THIS development takes place go seeWadi Rum now. Speak to the people, go be part of the desert, then think again …..
Abdul Razaq Garuba on 10.26.2012 at 17:40 PM
People, leave the Earth be.