Initial Research
I am going to be researching the Al Faya Lodge by Anarchitect in the Sharjah desert. Al Faya Lodge is a hotel and a saltwater spa which sits in the red sand at the foot of Mount Alvaah in the Emirate of Sharjah. The Lodge was once only two concrete buildings with only a clinic and a grocery shop centuries ago. Anarchitecture took the building and made it a five-room boutique hotel. A new building was developed, and a saltwater spa with an open-air swimming pool was housed.
Anarchitect used the dull rust colour of weathered steel to imitate highlights of the interventions in the old stone buildings. The metal used was also chosen to utilize the rich iron ore deposits in the area, which was also close to the first petrol pumps that were built in the United Arab Emirates.
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Al Faya Lodge
Jonathan Ashmore, the founder, and principal of Anarchitect, stated that “Desert conditions present extreme heat in the summer with intense and prolonged sun exposure so it is important to consider these factors when first designing the form and mass of the building.” The material of the building is crucial and not to be overlooked at because people overlooked at the weather conditions in the desert. These different weather conditions can heavily affect the conditions of a building. Materials such as wood to build wooden structures in not suitable because it is unable to withstand diverse types of elements such as rain or low temperatures at night. (India Block, 2019)
Locally sourced concrete and stone were used to build new structures for the hotel complex. The terraced decks are raised higher than the level of the sand with overhead roofs and screens providing shade from the scorching sun. The materials used for the Lodge was polished concrete, granite, and travertine for durability, while hardwood and plastered render used that would weather attractively in the extreme climate.
Materials that are used in Desert Architecture.
Materials suitable for desert architecture are adobe, rammed earth, concrete, and stone. Adobe bricks are made from a combination of sand, clay, and water, then moulded into bricks to sun-dried. Adobe bricks are known for their thermal mass, which helps to control indoor temperature. Adobe bricks are also able to tolerate high winds that are common in dry environments.
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Adobe
I am going to be researching the Al Faya Lodge by Anarchitect in the Sharjah desert. Al Faya Lodge is a hotel and a saltwater spa which sits in the red sand at the foot of Mount Alvaah in the Emirate of Sharjah. The Lodge was once only two concrete buildings with only a clinic and a grocery shop centuries ago. Anarchitecture took the building and made it a five-room boutique hotel. A new building was developed, and a saltwater spa with an open-air swimming pool was housed.
Anarchitect used the dull rust colour of weathered steel to imitate highlights of the interventions in the old stone buildings. The metal used was also chosen to utilize the rich iron ore deposits in the area, which was also close to the first petrol pumps that were built in the United Arab Emirates.
Al Faya Lodge
Jonathan Ashmore, the founder, and principal of Anarchitect, stated that “Desert conditions present extreme heat in the summer with intense and prolonged sun exposure so it is important to consider these factors when first designing the form and mass of the building.” The material of the building is crucial and not to be overlooked at because people overlooked at the weather conditions in the desert. These different weather conditions can heavily affect the conditions of a building. Materials such as wood to build wooden structures in not suitable because it is unable to withstand diverse types of elements such as rain or low temperatures at night. (India Block, 2019)
Locally sourced concrete and stone were used to build new structures for the hotel complex. The terraced decks are raised higher than the level of the sand with overhead roofs and screens providing shade from the scorching sun. The materials used for the Lodge was polished concrete, granite, and travertine for durability, while hardwood and plastered render used that would weather attractively in the extreme climate.
Materials that are used in Desert Architecture.
Materials suitable for desert architecture are adobe, rammed earth, concrete, and stone. Adobe bricks are made from a combination of sand, clay, and water, then moulded into bricks to sun-dried. Adobe bricks are known for their thermal mass, which helps to control indoor temperature. Adobe bricks are also able to tolerate high winds that are common in dry environments.
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Adobe
Stone bricks are also used as a material to build in deserts. Stone is a famous and durable material found across the desert. Stone is versatile since it can be cut and shaped in diverse ways. It can also withstand severe winds, hot temperatures, and fires. As for concrete, it is characteristic is very similar to stone. The difference between them is concrete is made from cement, sand, and crushed stone or gravel. However, stone is a natural material.
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Stone and Concrete
Rammed Earth is an intriguing building material that involves compressing soil into walls. With enough pressure, the soil can be packed tightly to create strong, durable walls that offer good thermal mass and insulation. In addition, rammed earth has a unique, natural appearance and can even withstand fire. However, over time, the walls may decay, and soil may accumulate on the floor.
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Rammed Earth
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Stone and ConcreteRammed Earth is an intriguing building material that involves compressing soil into walls. With enough pressure, the soil can be packed tightly to create strong, durable walls that offer good thermal mass and insulation. In addition, rammed earth has a unique, natural appearance and can even withstand fire. However, over time, the walls may decay, and soil may accumulate on the floor.
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Rammed Earth
Use this as a demonstration of your inspiration for your project - make that clear in this post - use one of your drawings to demonstrate how this has inspired you, discuss the design Al Faya lodge, find out more about it - how did the architect design for the conditions - high and low temperatures. Move3 the material research to another post with more in depth investigation of what you are going to do with it.
ReplyDeleteReference your post, use citations if you paraphrase. Above all write in your own words.