MASK Architects has designed the world’s first Eco-Tourism based BAOBAB Luxury Safari Resort in Africa which produces its own water autonomously by using ‘Air to Water technology’ energy powered by transparent solar device covered curtain glass. The aim of the project is not only to create a unique luxury residence, but also to seek innovative, sustainable, and environmental solutions to the problems based on constructive and restorative project generation processes arising from the geological, climatic, and environmental factors in which the project is located. “With this project, our goal is to make the most basic need of water accessible rather than a luxury experience and to prevent hunger, thirst and the diseases and deaths its cause” architects explain.
BAOBAB Safari Lodges will be enclosed in a self-sufficient community where there will be land to grow fruits, vegetables, to source water, for farming and animals, and facilities to make and sell food such as cheese, bread, meat and milk. “We want to be able to build a community which can provide and feed the surrounding communities which are starving and in poverty,” continues MASK Architects. “We are able to give work to the local people as well in agriculture and manufacturing and build a working community working alongside with people who have traveled from around the world.”
“We aim that our concept eco-lodges can be delivered in any remote area, and be the start to building self-sufficient communities,” architects add. “We have designed them to be expandable and flexible to any situation and terrain. The project will be affordable, scalable and adaptable. Using resources sustainably, we aim to reduce the impact of over-consumption and waste. Maintaining biodiversity within the settlements, binding nature and landscape together with wildlife.”
Taking in local materials and culture, MASK Architects has designed a unique safari lodge that echo’s culture and settlements designed to be a community in any secluded place. Providing a luxury camping experience with this new safari lodges, architects have created lodges with pools, wildlife interaction sections and living spaces. Designed to interact with the surrounding natural areas, to combine indoors and outdoors together, to nestle into the wildlife and trees.
The lodges will be raised 3.5 meters off the ground to create a secure living safe zone. “The experience of feeling up and above and to meet the tree line echoes our concept to create these safari lodges within the wildlife,” said the team. Instead of having the pool on the ground floor, designers transferred and created a pool on the top floor and high level to enhance the experience and provide a vista panoramic view of the safari zone. They have designed a lower boundary interaction balcony that allows an experience to interact with the wildlife that surround the settlements.
The structure of the building consists of a center that houses the staircase to access different levels of the lodge, it also houses the pump for the water to be pumped up and drained down from the pool. The exterior structure is created with local wooden materials, the 40 structural pillars to support the floors and also to house the transparency glass or light-weight material in between. The structure incorporates nternal foldable blinds that would create privacy when needed and also to allow cooling from the shade in weathers that reach high temperatures.
The lodge ideally has been designed to house areas for living space. The lodges can be used for couples, small families or large groups. Areas that house storage for luggage and clothing, a small bespoke bar for keeping snacks and drinks, an internal bathroom with enclosed toilet, sink and shower. A Multi-useable living room, working area, and bedroom. 30 square meter pool and plunge deck area with an outdoor shower. The lodges that are nestled in the wildlife, with beachwood exterior styling to create a tropical safari resort development.
The modules have been designed for easy mobility and to be built up and constructed in large or small lodges. The formations of the modules can self-sustain as a community integrated together to create a small or large eco-friendly community “Eco Safari Lodges”. The idea of creating these luxury eco safari lodges is to be able to bring more people to have interest in wildlife and to experience living in areas secluded and remote with the wildlife. It is seen as a luxury to experience it, but also it can educate and elevate people’s understanding of nature and wildlife.
The Lodges can be used in many different sectors, from housing, restaurants, bars, lounges, spa’s, offices, fitness centers, educational centers, safari park staff facilities, security and watchtower posts and more. The balconies that surround the lodge where the users can interact with the wildlife and feed them, can be installed with toughened glass on the floors to give a different perspective and view of the animals below. While the animals below take advantage of the shade, the viewers can view the wildlife from above.