Client: Red Sea Global - Project Partners: Oppenheim Architecture, WSP, Khatib and Alami
Desert Rock Hotel - Red Sea
Project Info
Set in a hidden valley and nestled between the mountains, Desert Rock - part of the Red Sea regional development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - allows guests to immerse themselves in nature on a whole new level, while offering unparalleled luxury. With the architecture fully integrated into the mountainside, preserving its striking silhouette, guests can choose from various accommodation types, each unique in its interaction with the natural setting. Most remarkable is that each unit offers unobstructed views to the horizon, allowing every guest to absorb the dramatic desert landscape.
Working with the language of the site’s geology, !melk designed a cohesive visitor experience consisting of journeys and a variety of spaces that instigate wider site exploration, adventure, and discovery, introducing guests to all of the cultural, archeological, and geological dimensions of this awe-inspiring place. A bespoke pavement strategy as well as a native planting palette subtly integrated into the design, along with landscape architectural interventions reinforce a singular identity for this place.
A key feature of the site is the Southern Wadi, and in anticipation of future conditions, !melk investigated and developed a seasonal strategy for wadi management. In sheer contrast to the wadi are the spaces located within crevices and caves, or on shaded slopes. Inspired by ancient vernacular and building techniques that utilized the cooler microclimates and minimizing solar gain, a variety of discrete spaces are dispersed across the natural site.
Desert Rock defines the new frontier for sustainability and sustainable tourism on every level - across planning, design, and operation. All materiality selections are sourced directly from the site, so that construction impact is minimal. The project is poised to serve as a benchmark for hospitality development in the region, undoubtedly delivering an internationally recognized destination.
Set in a hidden valley and nestled between the mountains, Desert Rock - part of the Red Sea regional development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - allows guests to immerse themselves in nature on a whole new level, while offering unparalleled luxury. With the architecture fully integrated into the mountainside, preserving its striking silhouette, guests can choose from various accommodation types, each unique in its interaction with the natural setting. Most remarkable is that each unit offers unobstructed views to the horizon, allowing every guest to absorb the dramatic desert landscape.
Working with the language of the site’s geology, !melk designed a cohesive visitor experience consisting of journeys and a variety of spaces that instigate wider site exploration, adventure, and discovery, introducing guests to all of the cultural, archeological, and geological dimensions of this awe-inspiring place. A bespoke pavement strategy as well as a native planting palette subtly integrated into the design, along with landscape architectural interventions reinforce a singular identity for this place.
A key feature of the site is the Southern Wadi, and in anticipation of future conditions, !melk investigated and developed a seasonal strategy for wadi management. In sheer contrast to the wadi are the spaces located within crevices and caves, or on shaded slopes. Inspired by ancient vernacular and building techniques that utilized the cooler microclimates and minimizing solar gain, a variety of discrete spaces are dispersed across the natural site.
Desert Rock defines the new frontier for sustainability and sustainable tourism on every level - across planning, design, and operation. All materiality selections are sourced directly from the site, so that construction impact is minimal. The project is poised to serve as a benchmark for hospitality development in the region, undoubtedly delivering an internationally recognized destination.