Abu Monkar eco-lodge project Farafra oasis, Egypt 2010

Situation map

Concepts• The project• Services and activities• Fonduq (caravan relaxing site)• Eco-lodge• Poll (natural water)• Drafts• Photos

The elements and the sources of energy• The adobe• Solar panels• Wind turbines

Contact

index

Egyptmap

Egypt is a premier tourist destination and has very good infra-structure (e.g., airports, roads, transport, and services).

The project is located in the desert within the western zone of the country. This area is still to be developed but already in factor in tourism development sector.

Our goal is to create an eco-lodge with a small number of guestrooms, surrounded by gardens and farmland on a property of 5000m2. The construction is inspired by the philosophy of Hassan Fathy, a great Egyptian architect who was an expert of desert areas and climate and used his knowledge to develop architecture adapted to desert environments, both technically and climatically.

Given our respect for this still largely untouched land, we plan an ecological intervention that is environmentally friendly and socially engaged to include several parallel projects in education, employment generation and economic development of the zone. Similar to the local culture and energy consumption, the construction will follow sustainable regulations.

This project will employ workers and artisans of the local area in building construction as well as furniture design and fabrication.

Concept

The property of 5,000 m2, is located along the road-side in the community of Abu Monkar. This area is increasingly busy, under development, and serves as entry point for expeditions to the "Ramblat El Kebir" (The Great Sand Sea).

The situation:This property is at crossing point for all who journey in this geographical area because it adjoins the only road uniting the Oasis with Cairo, a distance of 650 km.At 90km to the north, there is the Oasis of Farafra, which is known for the spectacular White Desert.At 190km to the south, there is the Oasis of Dakhla.This is a strategic location since it is the only midway point between the Oases, which is inhabited and contains water.

The project consists of a cafe-restaurant on the road-side and an Eco-lodge with 12 guest rooms in the desert. The site has electricity and running water from the local power supply of Abu Monkar. In addition, a well will be excavated to open a natural water pool, usually sulfurous which is ideal for skin and spa treatments.

Description:1 .- Cafeteria, 350m2, including a bar, restaurant, terrace and relaxing area that overlooks the Great Sand Sea.2 .- Eco-lodge, comprising of 6 houses of 130m2 each, resulting in a total of 12 rooms.3 .- Well for use by cafeteria, Eco-lodge, pool and to water gardens and crops.4 .- Planting gardens and organic vegetable garden for on-site consumption of fruit and vegetables.5 .- Use of renewable energies (solar panels, wind turbines).6 .- Treatment of waste water by a natural system of plants and gravel filters.

The project

The aim is to provide services to tourists, increasingly numerous in this area, and to local needs, since there is no accommodation in the immediate vicinity.

The cafeteria will target travelers passing through this route who want or need to stop and rest, drink or eat before continuing to the next oasis. It will be the only rest stop in a 200 km around radios.

The Eco-lodge is mainly focused on providing a quality tourism experience for both international guests and Egyptian residents. This latter group is more regular than the usual seasonal tourism and for stays for more than one night.

From this site, excursions can be organized into the desert, from several hours to several days. The dunes in the Great Sand Sea are a prime attraction, with great sites for camping.In the surrounding area of the Project, there are other places of desert beauty. To explore the desert, there are native Bedouin guides who come from local tribes who left their nomadic, pastoral life a few years ago to settle down in communities. They have a perfect knowledge of the area since they have been crossing this area since childhood.

A Sample of Potential ActivitiesA variety of activities can be arranged, including provide logistics services, such as follows:- Short or long stays for groups interested in adventure tourism.- Group meditation or other personal development experiences and techniques.- Experience the nomadic lifestyle on camels, in 4x4 vehicles, or trekking by foot.

All these possibilities in the "Ramblat El Kebir" - one of the most beautiful deserts in the world!

Services and activities

• The cafeteria is already built, with only interior finishing/decoration to be completed.

• Located on access road 50m from the main route.

• The floor plan is 24m x 16m, with a total of 416m2.

• The building contains one kitchen, toilets, and two rooms open to the courtyard.

• It is constructed in adobe in all its outer walls, the inner structure is a wall of load of 35cm, of fired brick and concrete.

• The architecture is simple, traditional, and adapted to the environment.

Fonduq (Caravan Relaxing Site)

It is divided in two types:

1. Construction of 6 houses with a patio that reflect quality finishing touches. Each house consists of a unit (8 m x 6 m or 48 m2) constructed in adobe, plus a patio of 30 m2. The house unit consists of a double room, complete bath and hall with a kitchen bar. The patio has a shaded porch along the facade and the rest is uncovered.

2: Construction of 6 guest rooms, including bathroom and terrace, (48 m2 surface) with a view of the “dunes sea.” Each one is located on the second floor of a house with its own separate entrance.

All carpentry and decoration will be traditional desert style. The entire residential complex will be surrounded by palm trees, similar to the vegetable gardens in the area. Landscape gardening will be completed for each residence.

Eco-lodge

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Inside finishing styles

Pool (natural water)

A source for irrigation of orchard and gardens will be open.

Fresh water pond for swimming will be constructed.

Water is sulphurous, with recognized therapeutic properties.

Perfect to refresh and relax after a day in the desert!

The elements

• Earth: adobe, mud construction• Water: pond, orchard, gardens• Air: wind turbine, wind• Fire: solar panel, sun

The Adobe• The etymology of the word ‘adobe’ shows that this ancient building material is a mixture of clay, sand, straw and

other organic components that distinguishes architecture from different regions of North Africa, the Mediterranean and Middle East Basin, Latin America and the Southern United States.

• The term comes from the Egyptian hieroglyphic sign 'tob', which means brick, and was subsequently incorporated into other languages, including Arabic as 'at-tub' or 'Atobe', and the Castilian derivative 'adobe'.

• The adobe mixture can be used to make, using molds, bricks that dry in the sun, but can also be used while still fresh to build a desired structure. It then solidifies resistance similar to stone.

• Defined as a humble material that is typical of traditional architecture, the interest in adobe by academia and in current professional practice demonstrate its value in today’s world and confirms its validity as a construction medium of choice in desert areas.

• Adobe is a material that provides optimal levels of air conditioning in very arid areas and maintains a stable temperature inside buildings, while avoiding the use of artificial methods. It requires very simple construction systems and is able to adapt to different architectural styles.

• The architect Nader Khalili observes these structures, almost like alchemy synthesis, as a product of the union of the fundamental elements of earth, water, air and fire.

• The great Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy revived the ancient traditional building techniques and elements of Mediterranean and North African architecture: domes, Nubians arches, courtyards ... elements that provide strength, beauty and harmony, at a cost far below conventional industrial structures.

• Following such ancient mathematical formulas that are universal and therefore contemporary, it is possible to carry out architecture capable of providing technological alternatives that avoid wasting energy.

• The height of the arches, the disposition of patios, the size of the windows ... create a solid and spatially wide structure, acclimated thanks to the properties of the material and suitable penetration of sunlight and air.

Solar (photovoltaic)panelsHow the system works

• The electrical energy is generated by the capture of solar radiation through photovoltaic panels.

• Generating photovoltaic energy is based on the photoelectric effect, that is to say, the conversion of the originating luminance energy of the sun into electrical energy.

• To enable conversion to take place, some devices – known as denominated solar cells - are used. They are constituted by semiconducting materials in which a constant electric field has been artificially created.

• The material mainly used is silicon, which is found in the sand. These cells are connected in series or parallel manner to form a solar panel that is responsible for providing voltage and current to match consumer demand.

• The batteries are charged by electricity produced by photovoltaic solar generating system. Installation is usually partitioned so that the batteries can store energy for 4 days independently, in case of very cloudy days and with a normal daily consumption.

• The regulator is an important element that allows protecting the batteries, extending its life by preventing overloads and downloads.

• The inverter is the element that transforms the DC power (DC) to AC (alternating current) needed to power all the lighting and other small appliances running on AC power.

Wind turbinesCompact wind turbines

• Obtaining electric power in a simple, efficient and environmentally friendly manner, using wind energy.

• The low cost of installing these generators make it a feasible investment.

• Maintenance operations are reduced since is a material with high wearing endurance.

• Turbines rotate on a vertical axis to themselves, producing no noise in movement and thus avoiding sonorous annoyances.

• Installation of these turbine generators along with a system of photovoltaic panels assures the continued production of electricity throughout the year.

• In this way, both sources of energy, solar and wind, are

exploited for electricity production.

• The same elements are used for both systems: batteries, regulators and inverters.

• A hybrid method in combination with solar photovoltaic panels!

Contact

Juan José Zuloagatel in Spain: +34 696 97 25 69tel in Egypt: +20 187 81 97 57e-mail: juanzulo1@ hotmail.com