DESERT ROCK IS part of an ambitious ecotourism development in Saudi Arabia, set among 11,000 square miles of islands, beaches, desert, mountains and volcanic areas. Carved directly into the Hejaz mountains, the resort comprises 60 keys, including villas, ridge-side suites, and a series of rooms excavated into the rock itself.
Oppenheim Architecture designed new spaces and experiences within buildings that are intended to disappear within the tectonic landscape. Indoor and outdoor spaces are located within crevices and caves, or on shaded slopes, utilising the cooler microclimates and minimising solar gain.
These discrete locations camouflage the architecture during the day, while at night they glow like small lanterns dotted across the site.
Most construction materials have been recycled from the site, and new forms embody the same colours and minerals as their surroundings. Dispersed facilities minimise the resort’s footprint and invite wider site exploration, adventure and discovery.
The interiors are crafted with raw stone, natural textures, and an earthy palette, designed to reflect and complement the surrounding terrain. www.oppenoffice.com
