MASK Architects has designed the world’s first Eco-Tourism based BAOBAB Luxury Safari Resort in Africa which creates its own water autonomously by using ‘Air to Water technology’ energy powered by transparent solar device covered curtain glass. That will be a part of their new concept that they envision to create a sustainable and ecological community in Africa.
The project’s goal is not only to create a one-of-a-kind luxury residence, but also to find innovative, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions to problems that arise from the geological, climatic, and environmental factors in which the project is located. Their goal with this project is to make water more accessible rather than a luxury experience and to prevent hunger, thirst, and the diseases and deaths that result from them.
Designers say; “water sources would not be a luxury reserved for the people; water is the source of life for all people. It is our mission to provide a unique experience to users by blending beautiful, attractive, and smart designs with technology and to respond to the needs of users living in the region. The water needed in Africa has turned into a luxury. Water should not be a luxury and should be accessible to everyone. With this project, we wanted to contribute to communities that need water in Africa. This versatile project has been designed to meet the needs of all segments.”
Designers envision their concept project assisting African communities that are remote and isolated from any infrastructure and amenities. They hope to use this project to help build infrastructure and communities, as well as agriculture, manufacturing, and water supply. They want to make this an experience where people from all over the world can come on a working vacation and give back to the community and help the local communities.
Water is now considered a luxury in Africa. Water should not be considered a luxury and should be available to all. MASK Architects hoped that by designing this project, they could help communities in need of water. From small settlements to large towns and cities, they can and will build future eco-settlements to help with Africa’s growing problems with poverty, housing, jobs, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, health, and innovation.
According to MASK Architects, they can help build sustainable settlements, eradicating all issues and beginning to build a better future for the locals. Integrating tourism into settlement planning is critical because it allows people to support local economies and involve locals in the project. This will allow them to raise funds and provide direct financial benefits for conservation while consulting stakeholders and the public interest, allowing them to raise environmental awareness and minimize the impact. Giving the locals financial benefits and power will generate a lot of interest and growth. It will help us support human rights and create democratic movements that are concerned with the future and its sustainability.
The aim is to build an eco-friendly community using the latest technologies to help with sourcing green energy. Also, they have integrated technology that will allow us to source water from the air. Air to Water technology is integrated into each multi-modular living lodge structure. Each multi-modular living lodge has its own technology to produce water from humidity and optimized dehumidification techniques to extract and condense moisture in the air to produce healthy, purified drinking.
Self-sustaining multi-modular lodges’ curtain glass is covered by transparent solar panels which can produce electricity by themselves. While offering a luxury and unique experience to the users, at the same time, the autonomously produced water network will be provided to the people who are struggling with thirst in Africa. Thanks to the air filters placed inside the wooden-covered aluminum poles that parametrically surround the facade of each module will let air intake enter into these linear channels.
The channels which are integrated into the linear lattice stripes structure extract humidity from the air which is filtered, condensed and then processed through an additional multi-step filtration system in the system room which is located at+1.50 level; producing “purified great tasting water. Thanks to letting the local air from channels which are located at the exterior facades of each module produce a Water is a water-capturing system that absorbs moisture from the air and converts it into drinking water using condensation and solar energy technology.
Air is pulled by linear channels which are located at the center of aluminum lattice stripes on the facade of lodges. Each linear strip has its own filter and local air then passes through these filters. Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes which are integrated in the channel at 45 degrees to capture water drops. Thanks to the slope of the channel, water droplets will pass through certain filtering processes and will be collected in the tank located at the center and foundation of the module. When the amount of water in the water tank located at the central foundation of each module reaches a certain amount, the water collected from the air will be transmitted to the areas needed in Africa as a network.
MASK’s BAOBAB Safari Lodges will be enclosed in a self-sufficient community where there will be land to grow fruits, and vegetables, to source water, for farming and animals, and facilities to make and sell food such as cheese, bread, meat, and milk. They want to be able to build a community that can provide and feed the surrounding communities which are starving and in poverty.
Architects are able to give work to the local people as well in agriculture and manufacturing and build a working community working alongside people who have traveled from around the world. They aim that concept eco-lodges can be delivered in any remote area, and be the start to building self-sufficient communities. They have designed them to be expandable and flexible to any situation and terrain. The project will be affordable, scalable, and adaptable. Using resources sustainably, they aim to reduce the impact of over-consumption and waste. Maintaining biodiversity within the settlements, binding nature and landscape together with wildlife.
The BAOBAB Safari Lodges is their new concept designed to be ecologically friendly to the environment and create a luxury safari camping experience inspired by Baobab trees. The Baobab is a prehistoric species that predates both mankind and the splitting of the continents over 200 million years ago. Taking in local materials and culture, they have designed a unique safari lodge that echoes culture and settlements designed to be a community in any secluded place. Providing a luxury camping experience with their new safari lodges, they 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, and 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 meeting the tree line echoes their concept to create these safari lodges within the wildlife. Instead of having the pool on the ground floor, they have 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. Architects have designed a lower boundary interaction balcony that allows an experience of interaction with the wildlife that surrounds the settlements. To allow users to enjoy the interaction and to be able to feed the wildlife is the experience they want to enhance for the concept.
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. They have incorporated internal foldable blinds that would create privacy when needed and also 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, and an internal bathroom with an 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 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 an interest in wildlife and to experience living in areas secluded and remote with wildlife. It is seen as a luxury to experience, but also it can educate and elevate people’s understanding of nature and wildlife.
The Safari Resort can be used in many different sectors, from housing, restaurants, bars, lounges, spas, 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.
Project Info
Project name: BAOBAB Luxury Safari Resort, The world’s first Eco-Tourism based Safari Lodges in Africa which produces its own water autonomously by using ‘Air to Water technology’
Design Firm: MASK architects
Lead Designers and Architects: Öznur Pınar Çer and Danilo Petta
Renderings credits: MASK Architects
Architectural Report Press: Sarje Nagda
Project Location: Africa
Gross Built Area: 25.845 sqm
