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Tucked away within the pink sands on the base of Mount Alvaah in Sharjah, Al Faya Lodge is a putting mix of up to date design and desert heritage. Designed by the Dubai-based structure studio Anarchitect, the boutique resort and saltwater spa reimagine two stone buildings initially constructed over 50 years in the past. Once a clinic and a grocery store, these modest constructions have been remodeled into an opulent five-room retreat that embraces each sustainability and the wealthy historical past of the UAE’s desert panorama.
Al Faya Lodge is a fragile stability of previous and new. The unique stone buildings have been preserved and enhanced with considerate interventions that give them a brand new goal. To protect the spirit of the desert, Anarchitect used native supplies like concrete and stone within the new constructions that complement the unique buildings. Weathered metal, with its putting rust hue, was chosen to focus on these additions, tying the design to the wealthy iron ore deposits discovered within the area. This use of metallic not solely displays the realm’s pure panorama but additionally nods to its industrial historical past, being close to one of many UAE’s first petrol stations.
The lodge’s design takes the area’s excessive local weather into cautious consideration. Sharjah’s desert surroundings presents a novel set of challenges, from searing warmth and extended solar publicity in the summertime to chilly nighttime temperatures. Jonathan Ashmore, Anarchitect’s founder, emphasised that any design in such an surroundings should account for these components. “The parts—daylight, sandstorms, and temperature swings—require supplies and designs which might be each sturdy and sensible,” he explains. The workforce rose to this problem by creating raised terraced decks, over-sailing roofs, and shaded screens to maintain the recent solar at bay, whereas additionally guaranteeing consolation for guests.
Durability was a key issue when selecting supplies. Polished concrete, granite, and travertine had been chosen not just for their means to resist the desert’s parts but additionally for his or her magnificence. Hardwood and plastered-render had been integrated to climate naturally over time, enhancing the constructing’s aesthetics whereas guaranteeing a protracted lifespan within the harsh desert local weather.
Al Faya Lodge by Anarchitect is a desert spa and resort created from stone and metal
Each of the 5 rooms at Al Faya Lodge has been designed with star-gazing in thoughts, that includes skylights to present visitors an unobstructed view of the desert sky. The main bedroom even has a personal roof terrace, excellent for soaking within the serene environment. The lodge could be booked in its entirety, providing unique use of the saltwater spa and open-air swimming pool, together with entry to different luxurious facilities, together with a eating room, reception space, and an out of doors terrace with a fireplace pit for evenings spent underneath the celebs.
The result’s a desert retreat that celebrates each the timeless fantastic thing about the panorama and the significance of sustainable structure. Al Faya Lodge’s considerate design invitations visitors to reconnect with nature, whereas additionally showcasing how fashionable structure can thrive in among the world’s most excessive climates. With its excellent mix of luxurious, consolation, and environmental sensitivity, Anarchitect has created a one-of-a-kind vacation spot that units a brand new normal for desert structure.
Photography by Fernando Guerra.
::Al Faya Lodge (about $250, per evening)
