MASK Architects has designed the world’s first eco-tourism resort in Africa which autonomously produces its own green energy and water for the community.
Fitted with Air to Water technology powered by transparent solar device-covered curtain glass, BAOBAB Luxury Safari Resort takes shape as a cluster of beechwood lodges, drawing on the typology of a community settlement and the form of the ancient baobab tree.
The technology, powered by a transparent solar device covered curtain glass, uses humidity and optimized dehumidification techniques to extract and condense moisture in the air. The extracted moisture passes through air filters housed in wood-covered aluminium poles surrounding each lodge. Then it goes through a filtration system in the system room to produce healthy purified drinking water.
Part of a wider restorative scheme, the project not only seeks to create an idyllic getaway in nature, but is also the first step in the architects’ plan to create a sustainable and ecological community in Africa. The resort collects and distributes water to deprived communities, as well as helping to enhance infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The architects state, “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 it causes.”
More than just an eco-friendly escape, Africa’s BAOBAB Luxury Safari Resort also offers a luxurious glamping experience. The lodges sit 3.5 meters off the ground. It has living spaces and wildlife interaction sections on the first floor where guests can feed the wildlife. They also have a 30-square-meter pool and plunge deck area with an outdoor shower on the top floor that offers panoramic views of the surrounding safari.
