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A Balancing Act: How Architectural Tourism Can Be More Sustainable

• Written by Matthew Maganga
• Published on June 26, 2021

The world of travelling is a multifaceted one. There are the everyday trips one takes for work or school, commuting to a set location during the week, usually within the confines of a city. There are the longer trips too, the trips which usually involve getting into an aeroplane to visit someplace a bit farther from where the traveller usually resides. These trips are frequently done for business purposes, but for those who have the means to afford it, these trips are undertaken for learning and leisure – where the traveller can be defined as a “tourist”.

On the surface, tourism in its most basic form is a straightforward process. A traveller visits a country for an overnight stay at a minimum, does some sightseeing, takes some photographs, and leaves. For tourist hotspots such as Bangkok or Paris , that overnight traveller can be multiplied by an excess of 19 million similar travellers, all contributing to what is a key part of the country’s economy. While there are various reasons that draw someone to visit a certain place, there’s a consistent factor that has attracted tourists of past and present - that of a place's architecture.

The glitzy, ultra-modern architecture of Dubai attracts a large number of tourists each year, exemplified by projects such as SOM's Burj Khalifa . On the other hand, places such as Venice in Italy and Stone Town in Zanzibar remain popular tourist locations as people flock to view examples of historically significant architectural works. Cities such as these reap the economic benefits of architectural tourism but can also suffer from tourism’s negative side effects.

Venice has had long-documented problems with tourism. Romanesque architecture, Venetian Gothic, and Renaissance architecture are just a fraction of the architectural styles that draw tourists to the Italian city. However, the current population of 51,000 continues to decline by 1000 residents yearly, and a lack of affordable housing exacerbates this mass exodus of Venetian residents. With a large number of properties being rented to tourists and the conversion of local shops to souvenir shops - Venice can be viewed as an example of how tourism can, in many ways, transform a city for the worse. A city can be “stuck” trying to contort itself in line with tourist demands, leaving it without the vibrancy that made it such a captivating destination to visit in the first place – as the tourist is prioritised over the resident.

Sustainable architectural tourism, far from just being the presence of attractive, historical buildings – involves a healthy balance between the needs of the residents and tourists, where a city’s architecture is more than pretty buildings and instead a part of a healthy urban ecosystem.

It is a similar problem with Stone Town in Zanzibar . With a vibrant, amalgamated mix of Omani, Indian, African and modern European building traditions, Stone Town is a part of a city with an architectural heritage that is one of a kind. However, large parts of the town are privatised – and Stone Town’s architecture is deliberately left to gratify a tourist’s image of a distant, faraway past. Infrastructural problems abound in some buildings – immediately visible to the resident but to the tourist viewed as part of the place’s “identity”. Places such as Stone Town need to be viewed as constantly evolving, dynamic urban sites, referencing their past yet firmly rooted in the present. A present that necessitates tourists viewing the architecture of a “heritage” city as more than just an assemblage of attractive facades, and instead as three-dimensional buildings which should simultaneously serve the needs of tourists and host communities.

In the midst of a pandemic that has seen us grapple with how to sustainably travel, it is also of paramount importance to examine and interrogate our expectations of what a place is when we do travel. Jamaica Kincaid’s book A Small Place , where she examines the harmful effects of tourism in Antigua, is a timely read and relevant to a whole host of global contexts. Sustainable tourism – within the context of architecture – is all about viewing places one visits as living, breathing, societies, instead of just a picturesque backdrop.

For every native of every place is a potential tourist, and every tourist is a native of somewhere.. Jamaica Kincaid in A Small Place - Jamaica Kincaid in A Small Place

Hashim Sarkis , curator of the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale , asked the question “How Will We Live Together?” One of the answers may lie in how towns and cities and cultivate spaces that serve their residents whilst also allowing tourists and travellers to visit sustainably. It is a gentle balancing act, yes, but one that is very much possible.

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ECO-TOURISM HUB IN SHANKARPUR, WEST BENGAL: Revival of a dying ecosystem using Disaster-resilient Architecture

“The waves lashing on to the sand dunes, the crystal-clear sea, the sun setting in the horizon and the casuarinas whispering on the beach.” ~SPRIHA It was perhaps the scenic vision of Shankarpur, fifteen years ago, which first drew me to the place. It was a weekend getaway, a serene, isolated beach in the heart of Bay of Bengal with a small village and fishery. The soft sand dunes and white shells along the beach, the fishermen dragging boats through the dunes into the water, the coconut trees at a distance and “Thakur Da’s dokan” (Grand Pa’s shack) with its “Luchi and Aloo” (bread and potato) were among the many attractions. There were casuarina forests along the beach with nature trails and natural butterfly sanctuaries. Some of the trees had hammocks tied between them. Me and my family were walking through the forest, where we once discovered a natural butterfly sanctuary. The forests were surrounded by the fisherman’s village. For some unknown reason, we kept going back to Shankarpur every year for vacations. It was like being in the lap of nature. However, over the years, when we went for our yearly vacations, we noticed incessant deforestation. The casuarina forests which were once whispering and roaring, withstanding all the storms, were slowly diminishing. Irresponsible tourism and commercialization had destroyed the beach. Suddenly the wildlife and natural sanctuaries were gone. The coastline had started shifting forward. There was a massive ecological disbalance and degradation. After a few years later, in 2016, there were no more casuarina trees. The beach was eroded and deserted. It was no longer accessible. We realized that due to incessant storms and cyclones and the sea level-rising the sand dunes were swept off and now “Thakur Da’s dokan“ (Grandpa's shack) was gone. After I joined Architecture school, I identified the relationship between the environmental, social, and economic aspects of an eco-system. I dared to challenge conventional tourism and explore how architecture can sensitively reverse the ecological disbalance. After re-visiting the village and interacting with the villagers, the following questions arose in my mind: • How can architecture respond to natural disasters and the atrocities of nature? • Were the incessant cyclones and rising sea-levels purely natural disasters or were these the result of devastating human activities and irresponsible coastal tourism? • How can architecture reverse or withstand the damage of these disasters? • Can architecture be a medium of inspiration, thereby educating local communities and tourists, fostering social and economic welfare? • How can I, as an Architect contribute to the change and establish a paradigm shift in the tourism industry?____”REVIVAL OF A DYING ECO-SYSTEM USING DISASTER RESILIENT ARCHITECTURE.” As a student of architecture, I have learnt “the extent up to which the world can be designed and changed, and I aspire to be a part of the change.” What follows in the upcoming pages, is a tribute to my childhood memories and how I have tried to reinforce my dream into reality. “To half the decline of an eco-system it is necessary to think like an eco-system. “ ________Jean Jaques Rousseau. In a world that is shrinking and eco-systems that our dying, there rises a distinct need to extend a field of action of responsible tourism which benefits the environment and thereby the society and consequently the economic growth. While zero-emission, zero-waste and zero-poverty seem to be faraway goals, as an Architect we can discover the world without distorting it. Revitalize ecosystems instead of impoverishing and polluting them. We can build a platform for active participation and restoration of cultural heritage, exchange without arrogance and enrich local communities through eco-sensitive design. In the years to come, the relationship that we maintain with nature will determine the sustainability of the homo-sapiens that we are. Along the coastline of Bay of Bengal, lie many pristine and scenic beaches with rich flora and fauna, namely Digha, Mohana, Talsari, Mandarmoni and Shankarpur which attract millions of tourists over the year. This region is a transitional zone in between sea and land where the casuarinas and mangrove forests were once seen to be whispering and roaring. However , over the last few years, due to incessant storms and cyclones, the sea-level rising and irresponsible coastal tourism there has been a massive ecological disbalance and degradation. Now the casuarina trees are almost gone, and the natural wildlife sanctuaries that once used to exist have all diminished. Along the various beaches which are flooded with tourists, Shankarpur was spotted as a small village with a beach expanding up to 1200 metres. It was comparatively less explored and commercialized than the neighbouring sea beaches but had immense potential for establishing a tourism hub which contributes to its environmental, social and economic standing. It is a severely ecologically affected zone. The coastline has been severely eroded and due to the coastal inundation, there has been removal of sand dunes and forest cover. The Forest Department has been giving proposals for restoring and replanting the lost green cover. There has also been a loss of cultural resources and social disruption due to negligence and lack of employment opportunities. Despite having a soaring literacy rate of 77% the small village population is at an economic and cultural standstill. There are limited transport and communication facilities. All these factors establish a need for a platform which is conducive to the development of the whole area. With this mindset, I shall design an Eco-tourism hub, resolutely committed to the concept of resilience. My proposal will follow the principles of sustainability and disaster resilience. It should protect the life and livelihood for coastal communities and conservation of ecological resources. It should create an interactive ground for locals and visitors so that there may be interchange of ideas and cultural exchange. The project conceives a site-oriented approach and demonstrates how the built environment engages with the natural environment. The natural endowment of the site with its vast expanse of water bodies , parts of which are partially dry, will all be developed. Provision of nature trails and aquascape retreats will be given. Since the beach is inaccessible, natural and artificial aquascapes will play an important part of the design. Nurseries for organic farming, promote self-reliance. Local communities will be involved in cooking and serving authentic cuisines. An eco-friendly approach and cost-effective vernacular architecture will be contextual to the place and easy to accept for the local people. It will challenge the conventional hotels and resorts in coastal regions and serve as an example or prototype to the tourism industry. Resort developments have been planned in border zones, rather deep within ecosystem units. The vernacular colour palette has been maintained among all the built forms to establish a visual linkage. The landscaping has become an extension of the existing ecosystem, mimicking it and preventing further fragmentation.

The site is located 200 metres from the high tide line thereby complying with the coastal regulation norms. It covers a vast expanse of 22 acres with existing palm and coconut tree forests, four existing waterbodies and an existing temple. It is surrounded by the village on its periphery and the shoreline is 200m to its south. Two abutting roads run along its southern and western periphery. The natural endowment of the site has barren organic patches of land in intermediate spaces in the forests. These pristine areas have been left untouched to cause minimum intervention with the existing ecosystem. An FAR of 0.3 has been maintained. Owing to the coastal regulation norms and height restrictions, a horizontal expansion has been opted for. A total built-up area of 78,456 sq.m has been achieved. Tropical cyclones cause maximum cumulative economic loss, hence disaster-resilient techniques were opted for. Most of the built forms are on stilts. This gives a base isolation to the structures and at the same time creates minimum interference with the existing landscape and green cover. The roofs were designed at an angle of 35-40 degrees to enhance resistance to high velocity winds. TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTION: Floating structures that rise to survive floods___Buoys protect homes from floods and rising sea levels by making houses float as high as the flood water level rises.The buoys can be made by recycled jugs. When water levels rise tanks lift the building while vertical guideposts extending from the stilts, hold the construction in place letting it go up and down. These amphibious homes are already in use in Vietnam. This technology has been introduced by Dr. ELIZABETH after HURRICANE KATRINA. Some solar passive techniques used are Trombe Michael's wall cooling action and the Parasol roof principle. Building orientation, shading techniques and flow of wind through fenestrations were also taken into considerations. Locally available and recycled materials have been used for construction. The vernacular architecture of West Bengal has been explored with the use of bamboo cross-bracing, mud, and thatched roofs. Climate responsive forms have been adopted taking reference from the pre-fabricated DELTEC HOMES.

Supervisor: Ar. Anshuman Laloo Head of Department: Ar. Maitrayee Mishra Designer: Spriha Chakravorty

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Eco-Tourism Architecture

• by Elif Ayse Fidanci
• 8 February 2023

The sustainable tourism industry is a sector that has grown by 80% in the last decade. Among the main drivers of its growth are the increasing number of architects who care deeply about the environment, and also an increase in world population.

Tourism architecture projects often look to take into account both ethical and aesthetic considerations. On the one hand, they need to take into account environmental issues such as climate change, sustainability and recycling; on the other hand, they need to provide aesthetically pleasing structures for their visitors.

Environmental sustainability is a worldwide trend on the rise and with eco-tourism architecture, these trends have found tourism architecture expression. There are many ways to design sustainable tourism, and eco-tourism architecture at its best provides for natural ecosystems, water conservation, waste reduction, and other ecological benefits such as air quality as well as shortening distances between tourists and the natural world.

In order to be sustainable hotels should provide energy efficiency in all areas from construction to amenities. They need to use renewable energy sources such as solar power or use more efficient fossil fuels like biogas. The hotel’s business model should include measures of reduced consumption. Guests should be encouraged to take public transport when possible or car pooling with other guests when necessary for longer distances. Re-using materials for construction is another way of reducing the demand on natural resources such as timber or steel. –

The river that is close to this wellness health resort converges water from the entire region, forming a confluence of tiny waterfalls that provides enough flow to power a hydroelectric generator that can sustain the electricity of the complex’s structures. Merging with nature has been at the heart of the design approach, not only through its functioning but also by employing materials found immediately on the site and in the surrounding vicinity, allowing the resort to become entirely carbon neutral.

Its materiality and layered coloration not only connect the inhabitant to the beauty of rammed earth, but it also retains exceptional insulation and structural characteristics. Despite the fact that construction was time-consuming, architects were able to enlist the help of a neighboring hamlet to complete what has become Indonesia’s largest rammed earth project. The remainder of the construction is composed of bamboo, much of which was gathered on-site.

The Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple, often known as the Million Bottle Temple, is constructed of millions of recycled glass bottles in Thailand’s Sisaket region. Glass bottles are not only a sustainable building material, but they also enable natural light to enter and do not require painting. Furthermore, the glassbottle bricks are simple to clean and maintain.

The Randilen Wildlife Management Area include ElewanaTarangire Treetops, Tanzania, which has a diverse wildlife population and beautiful scenery. Visitors who stay at ElewanaTarangire Treetops support the preservation of natural regions and the advantages of responsible travel.

According to Antti Nikander, the cooperative’s organizer, Santa Claus Village takes sustainability, and in particular the battle against climate change, very seriously. About 50 businesses in the tourist and experiences sectors are represented by the cooperative, which is based near the Arctic Circle. Even though the Arctic Circle has only recently made considerable strides toward sustainable development and even though there is still more to be done, the cooperative is confident that the enterprises are moving in the right path and have a genuine desire to promote sustainable tourism.

• Architectural Tourism
• Eco Tourism
• Tourism Eco
• Tourism in Architecture

Elif Ayse Fidanci

architect, writer

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Can design make ecotourism even better?

Napo Wildlife Centre eco-lodges, Spain. Napo Wildlife Centre (Creative Commons).

Taking holidays is an important part of modern life. Who hasn’t got through a difficult Tuesday afternoon at work by daydreaming about their next getaway?

And while the typical 'fly and flop' package is still undoubtably popular, a growing number of holidaymakers are now opting for ecotourism.

What is ecotourism?

Ecotourism, growing in popularity since the 1990s, is defined by the Ecotourism Society as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

Beyond that, there’s a lot of different opinions on what exactly is or isn’t ecotourism. The following principles come up most often:

• A focus on enjoying nature (animals, water, landscapes, skyscapes, etc)
• Tourists’ money funding nature conservation
• Sustainable and low-impact facilities / accommodation
• Respect of local and indigenous cultures
• Tourists’ money going directly to local people
• A focus on learning about the destination’s ecology and culture

Another important aspect is that ecologically sensitive areas (e.g. a rainforest in Costa Rica) lend themselves very well to ecotourism ventures, but by their very nature such sites cannot cope with too many visitors without degradation.

Ecotourism sites cannot take as many guests as possible as this will risk damaging the very sites the tourists come to experience. For this reason the Ecotourism Society adapted the classic definition of sustainable development. Ecotourism: "meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.”

The country most associated with ecotourism is undoubtably Costa Rica. The small Central American nation is blessed with rich rainforests and rivers, boasting many charismatic animals like sloths, tree frogs and turtles. The country has been very progressive in its uptake of renewable energy and has taken a similarly ecological approach to tourism – promoting ecotourism has allowed it to monetise its natural assets while preserving their integrity. Other destinations that spring to mind are frequently in the developing world, like Borneo, Kenya and parts of India. However, rich countries can also embrace ecotourism with New Zealand, Norway and Iceland popular eco-destinations.

Currently, the UK doesn’t feature too highly as a global ecotourism destination but that seems to be changing. The website Green Traveller lists many eco lodges in England alone.

Why do we need ecotourism?

Tourism is one of the world’s biggest industries, and is an important source of income and employment for many countries. However it also has costs. The industry is responsible for over 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, helping to fuel dangerous climate change.

More locally, the construction of hotels, resorts, and accompanying infrastructure, has led to habitat loss and displacement of local poor people. High volumes of tourists also produce a lot of waste, and put pressure on water sources. Many hotel and resort chains are owned by foreign corporations, some of whom extract vast profits without giving much to the host community.

Finally, development for tourism has sometimes led to cultural homogenisation, the breakdown of traditional customs, practices and activities, and the marginalisation of local people. These impacts are particularly prevalent in developing countries where locals have less economic and political power, but also happen to a lesser extent in developed countries with large tourism industries (e.g. Spain and Italy).

Of course, it’s horrible to think that your holiday could be causing damage to the host community. We travel for pleasure, relaxation and adventure, not to marginalise anyone or pollute the environment.

A tourism experience can be environmentally sustainable and/or culturally sensitive without necessarily being ecotourism, so clearly ecotourism is not the only positive option. However it is a very progressive trend, which is clearly resonating with many people. Plus it has a strong business case, as the broader category of nature tourism  is now the fastest growing segment of tourism.

Role of architecture in ecotourism

But what does all this have to do with architecture and design?

Point 3 of our 6 identified key principles calls for 'Sustainable and low-impact facilities / accommodation'. Clearly this alone isn’t enough to make an ecotourism experience, but it is an important point. Also, good design can help to fulfil some of the other points too: being culturally sensitive by respecting local architectural styles, and benefiting the host community economically by hiring local people for building, maintaining and operating the premises.

Visualisation of our unique zero-carbon luxury eco-lodge, PassivPod

We believe a well designed eco lodge should:

• Be made of predominantly natural materials, sourced locally and sustainably
• Use passive solar and energy efficiency features to minimise energy demand
• Include renewable energy technologies to provide most or all of the power
• Utilise water conservation methods and rainwater harvesting
• Provide a comfortable, inspiring and educational base for guests
• Draw design inspiration from local architecture and blend into the landscape

We are actually developing our own award-winning eco-lodge design, called PassivPod. While it could be adapted easily for other uses, PassivPod is perfect for ecotourism.

A ‘pod-shaped’ building with four bedrooms and comfortable living space, it uses passive solar design, solar power and a wood stove to be carbon neutral in operation. It’s also made from natural materials and harvests rainwater. With its extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing on the southern side, balcony and outside hot-tub, PassivPod is ideal for placement in an area of rich natural beauty.

Our design was a finalist in the Sunday Times Eco-Haus Competition 2014 and we’re working on further developing the technical plans, building a dedicated website and raising funding for a prototype. Our vision is for PassivPods to be rolled out in remote rural areas, allowing people to have inspiring and comfortable nature-based holidays from a zero-carbon base which enhances rather than degrades the landscape.

If you work in the ecotourism industry and are interested in PassivPod, please get in touch and take a look at our new website: www.passivpod.co.uk .

If you’re interested in ecotourism as a tourist, here’s some useful resources:

https://www.greentraveller.co.uk https://www.ecotourism.org

https://www.ecotourdirectory.com

And we’ll keep you updated on our progress with making PassivPod an ecotourism reality. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know!

What do you think of ecotourism? Tweet us your views at @KoruArchitects .

01273 204065 [email protected]

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Amazing Examples of Eco Tourism Architecture

Ecotourism and responsible travel is becoming more and more integrated in with regular forms of tourism. It centres around tourists visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, reducing their impact on the natural surroundings while learning and contributing to the preservation of the area.

In recent years, ecotourism has grown from simple working holidays in animal reserves, to responsible and sustainable resorts around the world that offer luxury, relaxation and education on the surrounding environment. Ecotourism architecture around the world is diverse and exciting, with many incredible projects successfully combining beauty with sustainable design.

Areias do Seixo - Santa Cruz, Portugal

Designed by Vasco Vieira, Areias do Seixo is nestled along the Atlantic shore in Portugal, overlooking sweeping ocean and country views. This remarkable installation combines a modern sensibility with a deep appreciation of nature and the environment. With a bold geometric structure, Areias do Seixo features 14 rooms, one townhouse and five villas, all designed with an inspired and eclectic selection of handpicked decor.

The Areias do Seixo resort in Santa Cruz, Portugal educates guests on local agriculture and farming techniques. Image source

This eco-friendly resort acts to raise the awareness of the local community, its guests and employees. Guests are invited to join in and learn agricultural and farming techniques as well as sustainability methods that are employed throughout the property. The property also features an online engine that allows guests to monitor the consumption of water, gas and energy of the hotel and measure the efficiencies of the different tactics taken to be more green.

Asilia Carbon Neutral Lodges - Tanzania

Designed by Caline Williams Wynn of Artichoke design studios, Asilia ecotourism constructed a series of eight eco-friendly domes with stunning views of Serengeti National Park.

Dome-shaped tents in Tanzania keep guests warm at 10,000 ft. Image source

The geodesic igloos are situated on the edge of the mountain forest around the Olmoti volcano and function as the main base for tourists who come to visit the wild Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. The dome-shaped tents are located some 10,000 feet above sea level and, thanks to their sensible design, maintain comfortable temperatures at night and during the day.

Dome-shaped tents offer incredible views as well as comfortable interiors. Image source

Each dome features sinuous Perspex windows that offer incredible views of the surroundings and wildlife, wood-burning stoves, Masai-inspired tartan cushions, ottomans and other objects that strongly reference the local vernacular.

Lapa Rios Eco Resort - Costa Rica

The Lapa Rios Eco-Lodge in Costa Rica takes ecotourism to a new level, going beyond traditional solar panels and water recycling. Initially established by John and Karen Lewis as a nature reserve, the resort utilizes green construction, helps protect local wildlife, supports a local elementary school, and, last but not least, uses pig feces to power its kitchen.

Pig poo-powered resort in Costa Rica.  Image source

That’s right, the power for the resort’s kitchen comes entirely from harnessing biogas excreted by pigs who consume any organic waste that is not recycled or used as compost. This innovative approach to ecotourism hasn’t hampered the architectural design of the resort at all.

Ecotourism need not sacrifice stunning views or luxurious surroundings. Image source

Nestled in the privately own Lapa Rios reserve, great care was taken when the eco resort was constructed to ensure both a beautiful and tranquil environment for guests that would not impact the plant and animal life surrounding it.

Ecotourism Centre - Fontainebleau, France

This project, designed by Inca Architectes, is located in the popular forest area of Fontainebleau in France within an extremely sensitive nature reserve. The Eco tourism centre was the first of its kind to be introduced within the île de France region, and its purpose is to increase public awareness of the region's great fragility. Centred around a reception and exhibition area, the project includes a large hall designed for welcoming groups and conducting pedagogical activities.

The first of its kind, the Ecotourism Centre was constructed in France by Inca Architectes.  Image source

The Ecotourism building is considered to be a living room in the woods, with wide and smooth shapes gently wandering along the preserved trees inspired by the eroded stones seen throughout the site. Great care is taken to strike a balance between architecture and preservation; with plenty of public areas and other fragile forest areas with limited public access.

The Ecotourism Centre incorporates eco-friendly energy sources and can be reversed if necessary without major impact on the environment. Image source

The project followed the global environmental approach during construction in order to limit its impact on the surrounding nature. The orientation choices and the protection from the main winds optimise the bioclimatic solutions and the eco-friendly energy sources used. The choice of material and the superficial foundations ensured opportunities for eco-construction and potential reversibility.

Blue Clay Country Spa - Latvia (Planned)

As one of Europe’s greenest countries, Latvia is a strong promoter of ecotourism, which is especially popular due in thanks to its remarkably low population density and the sheer amount of green and untouched natural areas.

For the Blue Clay Country Spa architecture competition , participants are asked to create designs for a guest house complex that is capable of providing overnight accommodation for one family. The guest house would also need to include treatment rooms, accommodation for the staff, and other ecotourism elements such as a small farm to house local animals.

The winning designs will be considered for construction, and those with the most inventive and appropriate eco-friendly and cost-effective measures integrated into them are due to be selected.

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• Open access
• Published: 28 November 2022

Architectural characteristics of accommodation buildings within the context of sustainable ecotourism in Cyprus: evaluation and recommendations

• Miray Dizem Üzümoğlu   nAff2 &
• Zihni Turkan 1  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  9 , Article number:  422 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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Tourism, a socioeconomic activity generally defined as an exchange of culture, is diversified by its different purposes. Ecotourism, which emerged and has been constantly developing in the last quarter century, is based on the principles of protecting the natural environment and recognising the original local culture in an interaction with the environment. As significant components of tourism activities, accommodation structures play a major role in the realisation of ecotourism. Due to its location, cultural heritage and rich history together with its Mediterranean climate, Cyprus is an especially important tourism destination for people from Middle East and European countries. The traditional living culture in this small island country has created a huge demand for ecotourism in Cyprus. The ecotourism industry in Cyprus provides housing structures restored with the traditional architectural characteristics of the island as well as new buildings. The new accommodation structures should be constructed in compliance with the traditional architectural characteristics of Cyprus to contribute to the island’s cultural tourism. Our study was conducted through a literature review regarding the main concepts of tourism and ecotourism and on-site field work on the architectural characteristics of existing ecotourism accommodation structures located in the ecotourism villages of Cyprus. In consideration of the field study findings, this study also proposes recommendations that could be a model for the architectural characteristics of new accommodation structures to be constructed for sustainable ecotourism in Cyprus. Within the framework of our study, the location, construction date, and architectural characteristics of fifteen accommodation structures were selected from Cyprus ecotourism villages; their layout and sketch drawings were completed using measurements and observations, while outdoor-indoor photographs were taken. As a result of these findings and based on the common architectural characteristics of existing ecotourism accommodation structures, the architectural characteristics of future accommodation structures have been identified accordingly.

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Introduction.

Tourism is generally defined as a consumer’s act of travelling and obtaining temporary accommodation at a place other than their permanent residence for holiday relaxation and recreational purposes (Yörük, 2003 ). Tourism, which is performed by changing locations for various reasons, comprises social, cultural, sports and special interest activities. Specific places and regions are chosen for different purposes and activities, making it possible to diversify. Accommodation buildings, among other tourism facilities, are vital components of tourism activities. Accommodation buildings that first provide a safe shelter for individuals and meet their various needs, such as comfort, relaxation, food and beverages, and entertainment, are categorised as hotels, motels, holiday resorts, bed and breakfasts, mountain resorts and thermal facilities (Kozak et al., 2014 ).

With its significant place among the various types of tourism, ecotourism, which emerged in the 1980s, is an important tourism activity for cultural exchange between countries. Ecotourism, namely, ecological tourism, can be defined as travel to natural and ecologically uninterrupted areas or regions (Özhan, 2007 ). Ecotourism accommodation buildings have characteristics that differ from the others, and they are similar to boutique hotels that are compatible with their natural surroundings while providing quality services. Eco-accommodation structures minimise the environmental impact on natural and cultural assets and involve landscape design and gardens and sustainable design construction, use green technologies, integrate the local community into the development and implementation of eco-accommodation buildings, and ensure environmental and cultural education for its visitors (Hakim and Nakagoshi, 2014 ). Accommodation structures, which are crucial for tourism activities, play an important role in the promotion and maintenance of traditional living culture for their visitors.

For centuries, Cyprus has been an important tourism centre due to its geographical location, Mediterranean climate, rich history and cultural heritage. As an island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus connected with other countries via the sea and maintained trade relations. The arrival of people from other countries began with British administrative and military officers during the British administration (1878–1960) (Turkan, 2008 ). After the division of the island in 1974 into north and south, Ercan Airport was opened in 1976, connecting the north with the outside world through means other than sea transportation. In the early 1980s, tourism became more active in Cyprus, and small holiday resorts were built and opened (Bıçak and Turkan, 2018 ). Since the 2000s, most accommodation buildings, particularly those along the eastern and northern coastlines, have been multi-storey and luxurious modern buildings that provide services based on the triangle of sea, bed, and sea (Ölçer, 2011 ; Emekli, 2003 ).

The residents of the island managed to continue their rural life and traditional living culture since the distances between the settlements are not too far and transportation is easy. The sustainable traditional lifestyle on the island provided positive conditions for ecotourism. Since 2005, Bağlıköy (Ambelikou), Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) and Dipkarpaz (Risokarpaso) were selected for the introduction of ecotourism, and the houses built with local architectural characteristics were restored and transformed into boutique hotel-style buildings. Annual ecotourism days are organised for the exhibition and selling of local food, beverages and handcrafts; and folk dance and various rural life events are held, all of which promotes and preserves the traditional life and cultural assets of Cyprus.

Ecotourism has recently become popular in Cypriot domestic and foreign tourism. The housing buildings at the related villages reflecting the traditional architectural characteristics of the island have been restored for use in ecotourism, and additional spaces and new accommodation buildings have been constructed to eliminate the shortcomings. These ecotourism accommodation buildings were chosen as the subject matter of our study with the aim of contributing to the improvement and sustainability of ecotourism since the traditional cultural assets of the island can only be promoted through accommodation buildings with traditional architectural characteristics. Because of this, future ecotourism accommodation buildings should be designed and built with the traditional architectural nature of the island.

Since the early 2000s, ecotourism has become so important among worldwide tourism activities that Cyprus’s domestic and foreign tourism visitors prefer ecotourism as their first choice. In line with such choices, there is an increasing need for accommodation buildings as a significant component in ecotourism. Considering the findings from our field studies on the architectural characteristics of the existing accommodation buildings in ecotourism villages, which were conducted to support the sustainability of ecotourism activities in Cyprus, the aim of this study is to make recommendations on the architectural characteristics of future ecotourism accommodation buildings that would promote and maintain the traditional living culture and all other local cultural heritage through spaces with traditional architectural characteristics of the island furnished with local authentic fittings.

Cyprus is an important tourism destination due to its location, rich historical and cultural heritage and Mediterranean climate (Bıçak and Turkan, 2018 ). Cyprus is particularly compatible with the notion of ecotourism since rural areas that are very close to urban life opportunities yet merged with nature still operate in a traditional way. The existing accommodation buildings used in tourism activities are not sufficient in terms of reflecting and promoting the historical pattern, traditional architecture and living culture of the island; hence, they cannot be useful for ecotourism. Therefore, there are not enough accommodation buildings in the villages to meet the increasing demand for ecotourism. As a result of our study, we identified the architectural characteristics that have a major role in the island’s ecotourism activities and proposed these for the design of accommodation buildings. While there are various studies on ecotourism in Cyprus, our study is the first detailed and comprehensive study on how ecotourism accommodation buildings contribute to the promotion of ecotourism through future accommodation buildings with the proposed architectural characteristics. Moreover, the study findings make a major contribution to the correct performance and sustainability of ecotourism through the new ecotourism facilities to be built with the proposed architectural characteristics.

Starting from the concept of tourism as the basis of our research, the types of tourism, the accommodations in tourism, the concept of ecotourism and its properties and effects, the ecotourism villages in Cyprus, the architectural characteristics of accommodation buildings in such villages and the architectural characteristic recommendations for the design of new ecotourism accommodation buildings are the focus of our study.

The research process table is shown in Table 1 .

Theoretical framework

Ecotourism is generally defined as nature-conscious travel that aims to protect the environment and consider the welfare of the local community (Ayman, 2013 ). In other words, the concept of ecotourism comprises travels to visit or study the landscape, flora and fauna, and activities unique to such places (Soykan, 2003 ). According to Elizabeth Boo, ecotourism is nature-oriented tourism protecting nature and improving tourism by fundraising for parks, protected areas and surrounding communities and organising environmental training courses for the local community (Erkut, 2005 ). Kutay noted that ecotourism is considered a development model at natural sites and is planned as a part of biological source-based tourism within a socioeconomic structure (Özyaba, 2001 ). The World Tourism Organisation recognises ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas with the aim of protecting the environment and enhancing the welfare of the local community. Ecotourism, which has grown and continues to grow, involves travelling to a place where the natural environment and unique culture are protected and where tourists can interact with their surroundings to learn about the local community and culture (Özhan, 2007 ). The concept of ecotourism was first used by Hector Ceballos-Lascurain in 1983. According to Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, ecotourism has the least impact on the environment; it covers visits to unspoiled or unpolluted natural areas with the special purpose of analysing, observing and living with the landscape, wildlife and rural concepts. The most important aspect of ecotourism is the inclusion of the local community; hence, socioeconomic benefits are acquired (Boo, 1993 ).

The trend in ecotourism has the fastest growth among the worldwide tourism industries. The most important factors that provide significance to ecotourism are as follows (Hawkins and Lamoureux, 2001 ):

International awareness.

Desire for nature-oriented experience.

Necessity to preserve natural resources for future generations.

The main characteristics of ecotourism are respect, responsibility and sustainability. The following four principles are always emphasised in all definitions of ecotourism (Erdoğan, 2003 ; Polat, 2008 ):

Natural environment.

Ecological and cultural sustainability.

Education and explanation of topic.

Economic benefits at the local level.

Ecotourism also aims to benefit from both natural and cultural features. The rural life, mountain and village houses chosen for accommodation, the tastes of local cuisine and the ability to camp in unspoiled nature are some of the characteristics of ecotourism activities. With respect to ecotourism, which focuses on existing resources, the main aim is to transfer daily life habits towards an activity (Polat, 2008 ).

Ecotourism accommodation buildings, which have a different approach than the accommodations for other types of tourism, are mainly boutique hotels that fit within their natural surroundings and provide quality service. They are mainly small-scale establishments that operate as family businesses.

Ecolodges were first introduced at the First International Forum on Ecological Accommodation in 1994 in the US Virgin Islands. In 1995, a guideline about ecolodge facilities, “The First International Ecolodge Guidelines”, was developed during an international conference held in Costa Rica. Consequently, the first international definition of ecolodge facilities was provided accordingly. Based on this definition, the essential components of the first ecolodge facility are as follows (Wood, 2002 ; Demir and Çevirgen, 2006 ):

Protect the natural and cultural elements of its surroundings.

Minimal negative impact on the natural environment during construction.

The physical and cultural texture of the facility should blend with the local architectural styles and scenery and colours.

Use of alternative practices to meet long-term water demands and minimise water consumption.

Solid waste and wastewater systems should be established with effective management.

Contribute to sustainable development of the local community through research programs.

Efforts to collaborate with the local community.

Offer ecological and cultural training courses from which local employees and tourists can also benefit.

Meet the energy needs by merging passive designs and modern installations with sustainable use.

Ecotourism in Cyprus

Cyprus is a small island where the industry sector has not developed very much, and the production sector mainly focuses on agriculture and animal husbandry. The local community have maintained their rural life and traditional living culture since the distances between the settlements are not too far and transportation is easy. The sustainable traditional lifestyle on the island has provided positive conditions for ecotourism.

Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) was chosen as a pilot ecotourism village in 2005 to revive tourism in Cyprus. Within the scope of such activities, the locals were provided training about ecotourism, and several conferences were held as well. Later, with the ecotourism activities initiated in Bağlıköy (Ampelikou) and Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso), ecotourism in Cyprus became popular and developed. Special ecotourism days are organised annually in ecotourism villages where local food and beverages and handcrafts are sold and folk dance shows and various rural life activities are held, enabling the promotion and maintenance of the traditional lifestyle and cultural assets of Cyprus. The houses built with local architectural characteristics are restored and transformed into boutique hotels to serve their visitors.

Bağlıköy (Ampelikou) is a village in Lefke, Cyprus, with 200 habitants, stone streets, houses built with traditional materials and a richness in nature where people still live in a traditional way (Tietze, 2002 ; LEKAD, 2009 ). Bağlıköy is a typical eco-village due to its traditional architectural texture, traditional lifestyle, local produce from fertile soils, traditional handcrafts and Cyprus cuisine. It became an eco-village in 2013, its locals were trained about ecotourism, and the Ecotourism Volunteers Association was established, which ensured awareness of natural beauties and the environment and protected cultural heritage items and local texture. As a part of ecotourism activities, village houses were restored as accommodation buildings, local products became much more important, and an annual eco-day event was planned (Figs. 1 and 2 ).

Ampelikou general appearance.

Ampelikou: a view from eco-day. https://www.havadiskibris.com/baglikoyde-paluze-tadinda-etkinlik-2/ .

Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) village is in the district of İskele with a population of 2349. It is located on the far east tip of the Karpasia Peninsula and is disconnected from urban life due to the insufficiency of the transportation axis and means as well as its distance from cities. However, this has favoured the survival of traditional island life in the village with all of its properties. The ecotourism facilities in the Karpasia Peninsula were first opened in 2009, and the first one was called ‘Arch House’. The traditional houses that have the historical texture of Dipkarpaz were restored and transformed into ecotourism eligible accommodation facilities. In 2013, the “Multi-Purpose Community Centre” (ÇATOM Coop.), the first Women’s Cooperative in Dipkarpaz, was founded to develop and sustain ecotourism and to support women and farmers in village life. Products made by women are sold on eco-day festivals and fairs under the brand of this cooperative (Figs. 3 and 4 ).

Risokarpaso general appearance.

Risokarpaso ÇATOM Cooperative.

With its population of 2860 people, Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) is a settlement built on top of a necropolis from the Bronze Age (Tuğun and Karaman, 2014 ). In 2005, Büyükkonuk village was declared a pilot village for eco- and agrotourism sites with the aim of reviving tourism in the area. Hence, trainings and seminars on ecotourism were organised for the locals. In collaboration with the SME Centre, several workshops were held to merge the local community with the concept of ecotourism. The handcrafts of Büyükkonuk, cultural events and festivals are important both for visitor attraction and for improving domestic and foreign tourism. The ‘Eco-Day’ festival is held in Büyükkonuk twice a year in May and October with major participation to support the local community in the village and preserve the local cuisine. The objectives of the eco-day festival are to improve environmental awareness, promote local and regional heritage and sell the local delicacies and the natural and organic produce of the local community. The very old traditional houses at the village square have been restored and put in service as accommodation buildings and restaurants for ecotourism activities. Büyükkonuk, the first eco-village in the region, serves ecotourism with its history, social and cultural assets and local architectural texture (Figs. 5 and 6 ).

Komikebir general appearance.

Komikebir-craft stand.

Methodology

Our research was conducted with a qualitative method covering a literature review on basic concepts and on-site field work. Therefore, an in-depth literature review on the concepts of tourism and ecotourism in particular was performed as the basis of our study, examining the types of tourism accommodation buildings, ecotourism accommodation buildings and ecotourism in Cyprus through the related journals, books, articles and thesis works.

As part of the meetings with the related institutions regarding the accommodation buildings in the ecotourism villages in Cyprus, which is the main subject matter of our study, the relevant institutions, associations and individuals whom we contacted provided the following information: the documentation on the registered tourism accommodation buildings and ecotourism accommodation buildings from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment; the information on the location, current situation and contact details of ecotourism accommodation building owners in the related villages from the Municipalities of Lefke, Büyükkonuk and Dipkarpaz; the information on the role of Lefke in ecotourism, ecotourism villages in the area and the procedures on how the ecotourism accommodation buildings in Bağlıköy, Yeşilırmak and Yeşilyurt became a part of ecotourism from the Chairman of the Lefke Tourism Association; the detailed information on the integration of ecotourism accommodation buildings in Karpasia into tourism activities and their contribution from the Chairman of Karpasia Eco-Agrotourism Cooperative and Board Members and officials from the Ecotourism Volunteers Association; the information and documentation on the history of existing accommodation buildings, restoration process, official procedures in transforming accommodation buildings and the benefit of such buildings for the regional ecotourism from the owners/managers of the existing accommodation buildings.

No surveys were used for our study. Only several interviews were held with the related persons and institutions for information purposes.

A total of fifteen ecotourism accommodation buildings were analysed on-site through the field studies performed examining the accommodation buildings in the ecotourism villages in Cyprus, which are Bağlıköy (Ambelikou), Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir), Dipkarpaz (Risokarpaso), Yeşilyurt (Pentageia), Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) and Kumyalı (Kumyalik). Outputs were generated on the number of floors and the architectural characteristics, the courtyards that provide indoor-outdoor space, the building materials, the construction systems, the room systems, the façade details, the interior elements and the furnishings. The measurements and observations required to identify the spaces in buildings and determine the functional relation between the spaces were performed, and their individual layout sketches were developed. The indoor and outdoor spaces of buildings were photographed to identify the existing status of accommodation buildings and support our study.

Our field study findings on the architectural characteristics of ecotourism accommodation buildings are presented via a systematic table. The common architectural characteristics of existing ecotourism accommodation buildings were identified based on follow-up assessments.

Pursuant to the findings generated from our interviews and architectural observations, the majority of ecotourism accommodation buildings are built with the traditional architectural characteristics. Some of the old buildings were restored and became a part of ecotourism, while the others are new buildings partially reflecting the traditional architectural characteristics. Future accommodation buildings should have the properties to reflect traditional architecture and living culture in their location, layout, material, and furnishing, all of which would maintain and ensure the sustainability of ecotourism. Hence, our study provides architectural characteristic recommendations for future ecotourism accommodation buildings.

The following table reflects our research plan, outline of our activities and overall process (Table 2 ).

Case study (ecotourism accommodation buildings in Cyprus)

Within the framework of our field study conducted on ecotourism accommodation buildings in Cyprus, the layout sketches of two accommodation buildings in Bağlıköy (Ampelikou) (Bağ Evi, Ambelikou Guest House), three in Büyükkonuk (Komi Kebir) (Ayphodios Guest House, Asut Guest House, Galifes Guest House), six in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) (Castle Carpasia Guest House, Karpasia Natura Guest House, Villa Lembos Hotel, Glaro Garden Hotel, Revaklı Ev Guest House, Karpaz Arch House) and one in Yeşilyurt (Pentageia) (Pendaya Eco Garden), two in Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) (Vouni King Hotel, Erson Hoca’s Organic Farm) and one in Kumyalı (Kumyalik) (Nitovikla Garden Hotel) were generated, and the buildings were photographed upon visiting them on-site and identifying their architectural characteristics.

Among the fifteen ecotourism accommodation buildings that are under the scope of our research, thirteen are in the village centre where active rural life continues, and two of them (Ayphodios Guest House, Erson Hoca’s Organic Farm) are located outside the villages. They are not high-storey buildings, yet all of them have courtyards.

The accommodation buildings are mainly built with masonry construction using traditional materials such as ashlar, adobe and wood. In some of the accommodation buildings (Villa Lembos, Glaro Garden Hotel, Erson Hoca’s Organic Farm, Karpasia Natura Guest House, Vouni King Hotel, Nitovikla Garden Hotel), reinforced concrete carcass systems and modern materials were also used together with masonry. Adobe was only used in the walls, stone walls, door-window frames, arch and wall coverings, while wood was used for door windows, ceiling carrier systems, shading elements and railings (Figs. 7 – 10 ).

Example of an adobe structure.

Example of reinforced concrete construction.

Example of a piecewise structure.

The majority of the accommodation buildings were scattered in design, and the layouts were organised in a rectangular form (Figs. 11 and 12 ).

Plan sketch—Risokarpaso.

The roof systems of accommodation buildings are generally either flat or slightly inclined roofs covered with bricks. Flat roof and saddle back and jerkinhead were used in six of the accommodation buildings (Castle Karpasia Guest House, Karpasia Natura Guest House, Glaro Garden Hotel, Karpaz Arch House, Pendeya Eco Garden Hotel, Nitovikla Garden Hotel).

Almost all of the accommodation buildings have a simple façade with wooden doors and windows. The arch stoas in four of the accommodation buildings (Galifes Guest House, Revaklı Ev Guest House, Karpaz Arch House, Nitovikla Garden Hotel) also pepped up the façades (Figs. 13 – 16 ).

An example of a structure built with stone material—Komikebir.

An example of a portico and arched structure—Risokarpaso.

An example of a building with stone materials—Risokarpaso.

An example of reinforced concrete construction—Kumyalık.

In general, the floors are covered with ceramic, while the ceilings are mainly built with straw roofs spread on rectangular wooden beams. The ceilings of four accommodation buildings (Asut Guest House, Karpasia Natura Guest House, Villa Lembos, Glaro Garden Hotel) are plastered and painted white (Figs. 17 and 18 ).

Authentic furnishing example—Komikebir.

The bedrooms have authentic beds made with wood, iron and brass; wooden carved chests, armchairs and tables; rugs on the floor; and curtains embellished with handcrafts for the final touch. The reception and sitting areas in public spaces are decorated with authentic wooden armchairs and sofas and a coffee table, sideboard, showcase cabinet and shelves. A wooden table with legs made on a wood lathe and woven straw chairs are placed in the dining areas (Figs. 19 – 22 ).

Authentic furnishing example—Kumyalik.

An example of a stone arched structure—Komikebir.

Example of a wooden rafter ceiling—Komikebir.

Ceiling and floor sample—Risokarpaso.

Findings and evaluation (table of eco-tourism accommodation buildings)

Pursuant to the comparisons and evaluations regarding the architectural characteristics of Cyprus ecotourism accommodation buildings, the accommodation buildings are located in rural settlement villages, and the majority of them have been restored and made functional. While some of the buildings are old housing units with traditional architectural characteristics, the others are new buildings with traditional architectural elements.

The old buildings have one or two stories with a courtyard built with masonry construction method using stone, adobe and wooden materials. The roof systems are brick-covered saddle or flat roof. Most of these buildings have arch porches built with ashlar along their sleeping units. There are wooden shutters on the simple face of the buildings. The floor materials are local marble plates, polished concrete and ceramic, while the ceilings have reed mats on rectangular wooden columns. All indoor furnishings in all buildings are authentic local materials made with wood, iron and brass.

Most of the new accommodation buildings are single storey, whereas the others are built with two or three stories with courtyards. They are mainly built with bricks in reinforced concrete carcass systems. The new buildings are generally fragmented and in a rectangular layout plan. Most of them are covered with flat roofs, and some have brick-covered saddle roofs. The floors of the accommodation buildings, which have simple façades with wooden doors and windows, are covered with ceramic material. The ceilings are generally plastered and painted white. The indoor furnishings are comprised of local authentic furniture made with wooden materials.

The architectural characteristics of the ecotourism accommodation buildings under the scope of our study are reflected in the table below (Table 3 ).

Conclusion and recommendations

Accommodation buildings, with their location, architecture and authentic elements and services, are crucial for the existence and sustainability of ecotourism as a kind of tourism that promotes and maintains local cultural assets.

The ecotourism accommodation buildings that are covered by our study are houses in rural settlement villages and have traditional architectural characteristics; here, people have the chance to live within the traditional lifestyle surrounded by streets integrated with nature.

Since the buildings do not have many stories, visitors can enjoy village life together with the traditional living culture in which people can sit and eat outdoors surrounded by nature.

The use of traditional materials promotes the traditional architecture of Cyprus, while the insulation properties of materials provide structural comfort during summer and winter. Moreover, the materials are from local suppliers, which has also added value for the construction economy.

The accommodation buildings are designed as scattered on the land, allowing them to be customised by the utilisation nature of different functions, while their connection with outdoor spaces as well as being low-rise buildings ensures integration with nature and detached living.

In terms of roof systems, the buildings have flat or slightly inclined roof structures that fit with the low-precipitation Mediterranean climate.

The buildings’ simple façades, doors and windows made from wood fit the Mediterranean climate, just as the traditional materials, stone arch porches and indoor-outdoor living spaces reflect the traditional architecture that has a major place in Cypriot life, and this is all provided for the enjoyment of visitors.

Although ceramics are used for the flooring, the use of traditional materials and construction techniques in the old and restored buildings and the ceilings of new accommodation buildings conserve the interior characteristics of local architecture.

Most interior furnishings are similar. The bedrooms and common areas have authentic furniture and furnishings made with wood, iron and brass, reflecting the traditional interior design of the island.

Consequently, our architectural recommendations for the design of future sustainable ecotourism accommodation buildings are based on our findings regarding the architectural characteristics of the ecotourism accommodation buildings in Cyprus.:

New ecotourism accommodation buildings should be in rural areas that are isolated from urban life and where unique Cyprus flora and fauna exist, traditional living activities still live on, and local and original production is performed.

New buildings should be low-rise buildings with courtyards inside to provide better quality service for visitors, better utilisation of rural life opportunities and provision of living service in a close relationship with nature.

To support the economy, contribute to structural soundness, and promote the sustainability of traditional architecture and local material resources, the main building materials should be stone, adobe and wood, which are still available for easy access on the island.

While accommodation buildings with low bed capacity may be single buildings, most should be designed as scattered buildings with bedrooms and common areas connected through a courtyard to be functionally compatible with a traditional rural lifestyle in touch with nature.

The roof systems should be flat roofs or brick-covered slightly inclined roofs to fit with the Mediterranean climate and traditional architecture.

To accommodate the higher temperatures of the Mediterranean climate and to reflect the traditional architecture, the windows should have wooden shutters, and semi-open spaces (terraces, arch porches, traditional balconies) should be used to create the outdoor spaces that have a vital place in traditional outdoor life in the Mediterranean climate.

Local and traditional materials (stone plate, wood, straw mat) should be used for walls, flooring and ceilings.

Wooden, brass and iron materials that reflect the living culture and ethnographical cultural assets of Cyprus and that are still used in rural areas should be used for the furnishings of accommodation buildings.

Moreover, electricity should be generated from the solar energy resources that are a benefit of the Mediterranean climate, which would make it possible to meet hot water needs; rainwater harvesting systems should be available as an additional source for water demand; and wastewater should be treated to be used outdoors and in landscaping with the aim of minimising the environmental impact on natural and cultural assets and contributing to ecotourism.

Pursuant to our findings, the future ecotourism accommodation buildings that would be built based on our recommendations regarding the location, number of floors, materials, roof system, façade by climate, indoor organisation, furnishings and renewable energy resources would promote the cultural values of the island and bring major contributions to sustainable ecotourism in Cyprus.

Data availability

Data can be made available on request.

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Miray Dizem Üzümoğlu

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Üzümoğlu, M.D., Turkan, Z. Architectural characteristics of accommodation buildings within the context of sustainable ecotourism in Cyprus: evaluation and recommendations. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 9 , 422 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01443-7

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"Zero-emission, zero-waste, zero-poverty"

      1. THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY IN CRISIS FACING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

The Philippine seas are severely threatened. Over-fishing, mass tourism, massive pollution of plastic waste and toxic products, as well as climate change present real threats to the health of the archipelago and, of course, the survival of its inhabitants.

Corals are dying, mangrove areas are being destroyed, sea-grass beds are suffocated by erosion, and vital populations of fish and other marine species are declining dangerously.

And yet the Philippines , with its 7,641 islands and islets, and its 266,000 square kilometers of coastal, turquoise waters and bays, is one of the true sanctuaries of marine biodiversity in the world, at the top of the famous "Coral Triangle".

These seas harbor at least five species of marine turtles, 28 marine mammals, 168 cartilaginous fish, 648 species of mollusks, 1,755 fish associated with reefs, and 820 species of algae.

 What would resilient tourism, capable of revitalizing the symbiosis between humans and the environment, look like? How should we humbly accompany the local population to implement urgent measures to establish marine protected areas, to protect them from severe floods, landslides, and typhoons, to restore waste management, and revitalize their biodiversity? In short, how can we reconcile the human adventure with the whole of life?  

     2. A PIONEERING ECO-RESORT FOR ECO-RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL, AND UNITED TOURISTS.

Tourism has become the most important industry at the international level. Its potential to contribute to sustainable development is therefore substantial and can be reinvented. Since the early 1980s, ecotourism has been exploring ways to reconcile the socio-economic development of our societies with the protection of the environment.

One step further, the Nautilus Eco-Resort project is a pioneering, eco-tourism complex designed to unite the knowledge of the scientific community with the willingness of eco-tourists to optimize the revitalization and protection of a degraded ecosystem such as in the Philippines. Based on biomimicry, the architectures of this Eco-Resort are inspired by the shapes, structures, intelligence of materials and feedback loops that exist in living beings and endemic ecosystems.

Ethical and eco-friendly, the Eco-Resort promises to the host populations and travelers to be actively involved with engineers, scientists, and ecologists in the protection of the environment that it wants to discover.

This collaborative concept offers responsible ecotourism based on education and interpretation in a natural environment, where the resources and well-being of local populations are to be preserved and gradually restored in a voluntary approach to "reimburse ecological debt ".

By minimizing its ecological footprint, the experience is centered on the preservation of nature and local urban ecology while respecting endemic ecosystems and agro-ecosystems.

While upgrading the natural heritage and culture, this "zero-emission, zero-waste, zero-poverty" project will be 100% built from reused and/or recycled materials from the archipelago.

Self-sufficient in energy and food, it will satisfy its needs thanks to renewable energies and permaculture. A zero-waste policy means that it will systematically upgrade its own waste into resources.

Through a co-creation process, the Eco-Resort will contribute to the well-being of local communities by including them in its planning, development, and operation.

Through crowdfunding, the project will generate funds for the site's conservation with the association of preservation of fauna and flora. It will directly support local economic development in the form of jobs and income. Finally, it will encourage respect for the archipelago's different cultures.

It is above all a project made to exchange and transmit ecological gestures between the natives and the newcomers. It will ask volunteer ecotourists to clean the washed-up plastic waste from beaches, put in place "cradle to cradle" recycling schemes, learn permaculture, protect coral crops, restore reasonable fishing, which will allow nature to regenerate, or strengthen natural protection against flooding.

     3. A LOW BIOPHILIC DESIGN BASED ON UPCYCLING AND ECO-MATERIALS

"Upcycling" means using waste and consumer products to make new objects or materials. In this process of industrial ecology and economical zero-waste logic, everything is transformed: series production collapses from factories, plastic waste recovered at sea, glass bottles, non-edible agricultural waste, or old boats.

The notion of waste is thus banned in favor of the notion of a closed cycle and circular economy.

To ensure that the Nautilus Eco-Resort is built in perfect harmony with the climate, the spirit of the place, and its resources, bio-sourced materials derived from vegetable biomass will be adopted. For example: co-products from agriculture or wood and hemp wool for thermal insulation, microalgae and linseed oil to produce organic tiles, local tropical wood species from eco-responsible forests for pontoons and wood floors.

Plants, their raw materials, are at the heart of the architectural project, simply because man has an innate need to be constantly connected to Nature. The five principles of biophilic design applied to the Nautilus Eco-Resort project are as follows:

     - Strengthen the visual link with nature 

     - Focus on thermal variability and the renewal of air 

     - Enjoy dynamic and diffused light 

     - Multiply biomorphic shapes and patterns

     - Optimize the sensory link with bio-sourced materials

      4. A PLUS-ENERGY VILLAGE IN A DOUBLE GOLDEN SPIRAL ON STILTS

The objective clearly defined in the architectural design of this Eco-Resort is to select with care the best of Low-Tech and High-Tech rather than choose one over the other.

Coiled at the foot of the hills in a crescent of fine sand, the Eco-Resort houses natural pools and waterfalls of vertical gardens.

The two main architectural entities - the shell-shaped hotels and the rotating apartment towers - wind up along two golden spirals respecting the Fibonacci sequence, a symbol of balance and harmony.

The height of each building increases with the convolution of the two spiral pontoons from the central island hosting the nautical center and the scientific research laboratories under its large plant roof.

The whole is dense to better preserve the territory and agricultural land. It is accessed mainly by sailboats or electric boats with flat bottom to limit the ecological footprint of road infrastructures.

This sustainable village is built on telescopic piles that produce, on the one hand, ocean thermal energy by exploiting the difference in temperature between the surface and deep waters of the sea, and, on the other hand, tidal energy which exploits the marine currents in kinetic energy by capturing them using hydro-turbines. Frigories for cool air and kilowatts for lighting are thus produced by renewable sources.

The façades and roofs combine plant walls and photovoltaic cells to increase the thermal inertia of the building, optimize natural cooling, and generate electricity.

Producing more energy than it consumes, the Eco-Resort thus achieves a positive energy balance. The added value of energy is thus redistributed in real time via a mini smart-grid to the local community, making them self-sufficient.

Rainwater is used and the gray water is biologically recycled in waste stabilization ponds bordering the gardens, while organic waste is recycled into biomass.

Each architectural entity offers a specific experience:

     - Rotating triskeles : To the East, 12 small spiral towers of varying heights invite travelers to live in apartments turning on their axis and following the course of the sun. Distributed in three branches, the 54 modules of three dwelling units fully rotate 360 degrees in one day. The 162 apartments offer exceptional views towards the landscape. The facades are adjusted surfaces integrating ramps to access the panoramic terraces. The central mat incorporates the vertical circulation and is covered with lush vegetation walls. At the top, a triskel roof also integrates solar tubes producing hot water and photovoltaic pergolas.

     - Green shells : To the West, 12 small museum-hotels in the form of a sea snails seem to emerge out of the water. On the lower floors, there are exhibition spaces explaining in particular the environmental and socio-cultural challenges of the archipelago. A bio-cement structural moucharabieh is deployed in a three-dimensional spiral to cover the programmatic functions distributed in alcoves. This bio-cement incorporates microorganisms improving its performance by inducing the precipitation of calcium carbonates in recycled concrete, as does a real shell to form its exoskeleton. These 12-living nautiluses feature a self-stable shell covered with vegetable essences that are to be protected on the island. Their two openings form funnels and are closed by curtain walls, incorporating silicon cells in imposts and green balconies in cascades.

     - Petals and corals : Punctuating the two-large golden spiral quays, small pavilions with organic and quasi-maternal shapes invite ecotourists to rest and relax along the water. The "petals" are covered with a vegetated hyperbolic roof while the shape of the "corals" is inspired by an Enneper triple surface, spiraling to erase any boundary between the inside and the outside. From each of their 22 pavilions, scientists have access to the fish and coral reef ponds in order to reintegrate endangered wildlife and plant life.

    - Origami mountain : In the center of the lagoon, the scientific research center and the nautical recreation base are located under a CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) framework. This is covered with 360 degrees of undulating ramps unfolding like giant origami. On the roof, there are vegetable gardens and organic orchards supplying, in short circuit, the kitchens of the restaurants of the Eco-Resort. The architecture is furtive and resembles the surrounding hills. This artificial mountain has a sports pool and a seawater leisure pool surrounded by all the scientific laboratories in order to increase exchanges between researchers and ecotourists. It also hosts an elementary school, a children's home and sports halls for local youth.

In a world that is shrinking, the Nautilus Eco-Resort project wants to extend the field of action of a triple-zero eco-tourism: zero-emission, zero-waste, zero poverty. Discover the world without distorting it. Revitalize ecosystems instead of impoverishing and polluting them. Actively participate in the restoration of cultural heritage. Exchange without arrogance and enrich yourself with the local communities by sharing eco-responsible behaviors.

In the years to come, the relationship that we decide to maintain with nature will determine the sustainability of the Homo-Sapiens that we are. With this mindset, the Nautilus Eco-Resort is resolutely committed to the concept of environmental resilience, militating for a new social system that is concerned about human and planetary health!

By Naser Nader Ibrahim

• Visualization
• Architecture Visualization
• Future Architecture
• Futuristic Architecture
• Architectural Visualization
• Vincent Callebaut Architectures
• Vincent Callebaut
• Philippines
• 3D Visualization
• Nautilus Eco-Resort
• Eco-Tourism Complex
• Biomimetic Learning Center
• Zero-Emission
• Zero-Poverty

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NAUTILUS ECO-RESORT | Vincent Callebaut Architectures

While upgrading the natural heritage and culture, this “zero-emission, zero-waste, zero-poverty” project will be built from reused and/or recycled materials from the archipelago. This collaborative concept offers responsible ecotourism based on education and interpretation in a natural environment, where the resources and well-being of local populations are to be preserved and gradually restored in a voluntary approach to “reimburse ecological debt”.

Discover the world without distorting it. Revitalize ecosystems instead of impoverishing and polluting them. Actively participate in the restoration of cultural heritage. Exchange without arrogance and enrich yourself with the local communities by sharing eco-responsible behaviors. In the years to come, the relationship that we decide to maintain with nature will determine the sustainability of the Homo-Sapiens that we are. With this mindset, the Nautilus Eco-Resort is resolutely committed to the concept of environmental resilience, militating for a new social system that is concerned about human and planetary health!1. THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY IN CRISIS FACING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures

The Philippine seas are severely threatened. Over-fishing, mass tourism, massive pollution of plastic waste and toxic products, as well as climate change present real threats to the health of the archipelago and, of course, the survival of its inhabitants. Corals are dying, mangrove areas are being destroyed, sea-grass beds are suffocated by erosion, and vital populations of fish and other marine species are declining dangerously.

And yet the Philippines, with its 7,641 islands and islets, and its 266,000 square kilometers of coastal, turquoise waters and bays, is one of the true sanctuaries of marine biodiversity in the world, at the top of the famous “Coral Triangle”.

These seas harbor at least five species of marine turtles, 28 marine mammals, 168 cartilaginous fish, 648 species of mollusks, 1,755 fish associated with reefs, and 820 species of algae.

What would resilient tourism, capable of revitalizing the symbiosis between humans and the environment, look like? How should we humbly accompany the local population to implement urgent measures to establish marine protected areas, to protect them from severe floods, landslides, and typhoons, to restore waste management, and revitalize their biodiversity? In short, how can we reconcile the human adventure with the whole of life?

2. A PIONEERING ECO-RESORT FOR ECO-RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL, AND UNITED TOURISTS.

Tourism has become the most important industry at the international level. Its potential to contribute to sustainable development is therefore substantial and can be reinvented. Since the early 1980s, ecotourism has been exploring ways to reconcile the socio-economic development of our societies with the protection of the environment.

One step further, the Nautilus Eco-Resort project is a pioneering, eco-tourism complex designed to unite the knowledge of the scientific community with the will of eco-tourists to optimize the revitalization and protection of a degraded ecosystem such as in the Philippines. Based on biomimicry, the architectures of this Eco-Resort are inspired by the shapes, structures, intelligence of materials and feedback loops that exist in living beings and endemic ecosystems.

Ethical and eco-friendly, the Eco-Resort promises to the host populations and travelers to be actively involved with engineers, scientists, and ecologists in the protection of the environment that it wants to discover.

This collaborative concept offers responsible ecotourism based on education and interpretation in a natural environment, where the resources and well-being of local populations are to be preserved and gradually restored in a voluntary approach to “reimburse ecological debt”.

By minimizing its ecological footprint, the experience is centered on the preservation of nature and local urban ecology while respecting endemic ecosystems and agro-ecosystems.

While upgrading the natural heritage and culture, this “zero-emission, zero-waste, zero-poverty” project will be 100% built from reused and/or recycled materials from the archipelago.

Self-sufficient in energy and food, it will satisfy its needs thanks to renewable energies and permaculture. A zero-waste policy means that it will systematically upgrade its own waste into resources. Through a co-creation process, the Eco-Resort will contribute to the well-being of local communities by including them in its planning, development, and operation.

Through crowdfunding, the project will generate funds for the site’s conservation with the association of preservation of fauna and flora. It will directly support local economic development in the form of jobs and income. Finally, it will encourage respect for the archipelago’s different cultures.

It is above all a project made to exchange and transmit ecological gestures between the natives and the newcomers. It will ask volunteer ecotourists to clean the washed-up plastic waste from beaches, put in place “cradle to cradle” recycling schemes, learn permaculture, protect coral crops, restore reasonable fishing, which will allow nature to regenerate, or strengthen natural protection against flooding.

3. A LOW BIOPHILIC DESIGN BASED ON UPCYCLING AND ECO-MATERIALS

“Upcycling” means using waste and consumer products to make new objects or materials. In this process of industrial ecology and economical zero-waste logic, everything is transformed: series production collapses from factories, plastic waste recovered at sea, glass bottles, non-edible agricultural waste, or old boats.

The notion of waste is thus banned in favor of the notion of a closed cycle and circular economy.

To ensure that the Nautilus Eco-Resort is built in perfect harmony with the climate, the spirit of the place, and its resources, bio-sourced materials derived from vegetable biomass will be adopted. For example: co-products from agriculture or wood and hemp wool for thermal insulation, microalgae and linseed oil to produce organic tiles, local tropical wood species from eco-responsible forests for pontoons and wood floors.

Plants, their raw materials, are at the heart of the architectural project, simply because man has an innate need to be constantly connected to Nature. The five principles of biophilic design applied to the Nautilus Eco-Resort project are as follows:

• Strengthen the visual link with nature • Focus on thermal variability and the renewal of air • Enjoy dynamic and diffused light • Multiply biomorphic shapes and patterns • Optimize the sensory link with bio-sourced materials

4. A PLUS-ENERGY VILLAGE IN A DOUBLE GOLDEN SPIRAL ON STILTS

The objective clearly defined in the architectural design of this Eco-Resort is to select with care the best of Low-Tech and High-Tech rather than choose one over the other.

Coiled at the foot of the hills in a crescent of fine sand, the Eco-Resort houses natural pools and waterfalls of vertical gardens. The two main architectural entities – the shell-shaped hotels and the rotating apartment towers – wind up along two golden spirals respecting the Fibonacci sequence, a symbol of balance and harmony.

The height of each building increases with the convolution of the two spiral pontoons from the central island hosting the nautical center and the scientific research laboratories under its large plant roof.

The whole is dense to better preserve the territory and agricultural land. It is accessed mainly by sailboats or electric boats with flat bottom to limit the ecological footprint of road infrastructures.

This sustainable village is built on telescopic piles that produce, on the one hand, ocean thermal energy by exploiting the difference in temperature between the surface and deep waters of the sea, and, on the other hand, tidal energy which exploits the marine currents in kinetic energy by capturing them using hydro-turbines. Frigories for cool air and kilowatts for lighting are thus produced by renewable sources.

The façades and roofs combine plant walls and photovoltaic cells to increase the thermal inertia of the building, optimize natural cooling, and generate electricity. Producing more energy than it consumes, the Eco-Resort thus achieves a positive energy balance. The added value of energy is thus redistributed in real time via a mini smart-grid to the local community, making them self-sufficient. Rainwater is used and the gray water is biologically recycled in waste stabilization ponds bordering the gardens, while organic waste is recycled into biomass.

Each architectural entity offers a specific experience:

• Rotating triskeles : To the East, 12 small spiral towers of varying heights invite travelers to live in apartments turning on their axis and following the course of the sun. Distributed in three branches, the 54 modules of three dwelling units fully rotate 360 degrees in one day. The 162 apartments offer exceptional views towards the landscape. The facades are adjusted surfaces integrating ramps to access the panoramic terraces. The central mat incorporates the vertical circulation and is covered with lush vegetation walls. At the top, a triskel roof also integrates solar tubes producing hot water and photovoltaic pergolas.

Courtesy of Vincent Callebaut ArchitecturesCourtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures

• Green shells : To the West, 12 small museum-hotels in the form of a sea snails seem to emerge out of the water. On the lower floors, there are exhibition spaces explaining in particular the environmental and socio-cultural challenges of the archipelago. A bio-cement structural moucharabieh is deployed in a three-dimensional spiral to cover the programmatic functions distributed in alcoves. This bio-cement incorporates microorganisms improving its performance by inducing the precipitation of calcium carbonates in recycled concrete, as does a real shell to form its exoskeleton. These 12-living nautiluses feature a self-stable shell covered with vegetable essences that are to be protected on the island. Their two openings form funnels and are closed by curtain walls, incorporating silicon cells in imposts and green balconies in cascades.

• Petals and corals : Punctuating the two-large golden spiral quays, small pavilions with organic and quasi-maternal shapes invite ecotourists to rest and relax along the water. The “petals” are covered with a vegetated hyperbolic roof while the shape of the “corals” is inspired by an Enneper triple surface, spiraling to erase any boundary between the inside and the outside. From each of their 22 pavilions, scientists have access to the fish and coral reef ponds in order to reintegrate endangered wildlife and plant life.

• Origami mountain : In the center of the lagoon, the scientific research center and the nautical recreation base are located under a CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) framework. This is covered with 360 degrees of undulating ramps unfolding like giant origami. On the roof, there are vegetable gardens and organic orchards supplying, in short circuit, the kitchens of the restaurants of the Eco-Resort. The architecture is furtive and resembles the surrounding hills. This artificial mountain has a sports pool and a seawater leisure pool surrounded by all the scientific laboratories in order to increase exchanges between researchers and ecotourists. It also hosts an elementary school, a children’s home and sports halls for local youth.

In a world that is shrinking, the Nautilus Eco-Resort project wants to extend the field of action of a triple-zero eco-tourism: zero-emission, zero-waste, zero poverty. Discover the world without distorting it. Revitalize ecosystems instead of impoverishing and polluting them. Actively participate in the restoration of cultural heritage. Exchange without arrogance and enrich yourself with the local communities by sharing eco-responsible behaviors. In the years to come, the relationship that we decide to maintain with nature will determine the sustainability of the Homo-Sapiens that we are. With this mindset, the Nautilus Eco-Resort is resolutely committed to the concept of environmental resilience, militating for a new social system that is concerned about human and planetary health!

Tags: Eco house Eco-friendly Green Architecture Palawan Philippines Sustainability Sustainable Sustainable Building Vincent Callebaut Vincent Callebaut Architectures

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The Măng Diang Hotel: A Case Study in Ecotourism Architecture

The article explores the măng diang hotel by tad.atelier, showcasing its integration with nature as a model of ecotourism architecture..

UNI Editorial published Story on Mar 4, 2024 under Architecture , Hospitality Building

Embracing Natural Harmony

Design Philosophy and Integration

Maximizing Natural Views

Sustainable Practices and Community Integration

A Model for Future Developments

Central Highlands Culture Ecotourism Architecture Natural Material Construction Tad.Atelier Projects Vietnamese Hotels

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The Impact of Ecotourism on Hospitality Architecture

Sustainability is emerging as an integral part of the contemporary world. Developing an environment-friendly approach to living is redefining all sectors of the economy. Research conducted by Forbes suggests that 77% of the global population is interested in learning how to live more sustainably.

This urge has spiked the use of natural resources and renewable energy to reduce the environmental impact of modern lifestyles. Environmental degradation and climate change have transitioned people to become responsible and conscious with their actions towards the environment.

What is Ecotourism?

The travel and tourism sector has witnessed the wave of sustainability in the form of “Ecotourism” which can be defined as a kind of tourism that is focused on enhancing and maintaining the natural ecosystem. Ecotourism aims to conserve the biological diversity and natural resources of a place, which formulates into a sustainable ecological travel experience for tourists. It helps in promoting small and medium-level tourism businesses in the areas having a rich ecology. 

The term “ecotourism” was first coined by Hector Ceballos Lascurain – a Mexican environmentalist, in 1983. He used the term to describe nature-based travel to remote areas with the intention to seek knowledge. Ecotourism is a promising way for generating employment opportunities for the local people through the provision of recreational activities. It also acts as a medium for promoting local art, food, and culture.

The Correlation of Architecture and Ecotourism

The concept of ecotourism influences hospitality architecture and is intertwined through its fundamentals of recreation. Hospitality building designs are an expression of natural surroundings through spatial design. Sustainable hotels, resorts, eco-villages, and lodges are examples of hospitality spaces inspired by ecotourism.

Sustainability is another common factor shared between architecture and ecotourism. Building construction activities negatively impact the environment because they propose a high demand for resources. This depletes the reserves of natural resources and increases the use of toxic materials, resulting in a high carbon footprint. Hence, designing buildings with sustainable elements helps in reducing their environmental impact. With the right understanding of materials and technology integration, sustainable architecture can also prove to be economical. 

The use of natural building materials, passive cooling techniques, local construction skills, and renewable energy effectively help in creating building designs that aid the purpose of ecotourism. Other design elements such as biophilia , recyclable materials, conscious on-site waste management, and disposal help in creating highly sustainable designs. Such design considerations not only improve the building’s aesthetics, but also upgrade the quality of life of its users. They help in creating a comfortable and warm environment and allow the user to be one with nature.

Architecture that Supports Ecotourism

Today, many hotels and resorts are embracing ecotourism as an extension of sustainable architecture. Architects are planning spaces for nature appreciation, meditation, training, and skill-based workshops as a part of hospitality buildings, and thus, subliminally promoting the principles of ecotourism. Since hospitality buildings are planned for rejuvenation and recreation, they are located in picturesque settings around high-tourist density areas. Hence, many resorts or hotels also offer integrated hospitality services in the form of farm/ garden tours, hill climbing, and fort visits.

The Art Village in Karjat, (AVK) Maharashtra is an exquisite example of architecture that assists ecotourism. Designed by architect Kiran Vaghela and constructed by the artisan team from Hunnarshala, AVK is a one-of-its-kind resort in India. 

The purpose of building this resort complex was to allow people to immerse themselves in art, architecture, and nature. It is spread across 60,702 sq. m. of farmland where tourists can interact with nature through animal care, observatory trails, and farming. The place is designed to stimulate creativity and encourage interaction. Art Village also promotes the concept of “healthy eating” where visitors can grow and cook fresh organic vegetables. 

The inclination to sustainable living is also reflected in the site layout and planning of the resort. The cottages in Art Village are built with natural building materials using vernacular construction techniques. The materials include thatch, recycled wood, and clay tiles. All the rooms are lawn-facing, which provides a stellar view and natural ventilation throughout the space. The other spaces in AVK include a dining facility, workshop halls, courtyards, staff offices, and other necessary amenities.

On similar lines, the Hara House in Bikaner, Rajasthan is another fine example of ecotourism centred architecture. The place offers a simplistic, yet comforting environment, with accommodations planned in a dorm-style. The resort provides an extravagant slice of Rajasthan’s royal lifestyle and desert culture. 

Hara House is India’s first “zero waste guest house” that is budget-friendly and also supports the local community through social development initiatives. The resort focuses on eliminating plastic waste from tourism by refusing to buy plastic-wrapped items. They aim to achieve 90% plastic diversion from landfills. Hara House visions to fully function on renewable energy by harnessing solar power through Rajasthan’s scorching heat. 

Ecotourism is beyond being yet another travel trend. It is a promising lifestyle shift that is gearing humanity for co-living with nature. Ecotourism is helping increase environmental awareness by allowing people to communicate with the natural habitat. Furthermore, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has re-established the significance of open spaces and nature at large. Therefore, acceptance of responsible eco-conscious tourism will only aid the world to lead towards holistic living. 

• Role of Ecotourism in Sustainable Development
• Eco-Conscious Hospitality Architecture: Meet the Winners of the iF Design Award 2021
• Sustainable Hospitality: Eco-Friendly Industry Trends and Tips for Hotels
• 25 OF THE BEST ECO RESORTS IN INDIA, FOR THE CONSCIOUS TRAVELLER (2021)
• Art Village, Karjat: A farm stay you can call home.

Disclaimer:  The information contained herein have been compiled or arrived at, based upon information obtained in good faith from sources believed to be reliable. The opinions expressed within the content are solely the author’s and can be subject to change. The image featured in this article is only for illustration purposes. If you wish the article to be removed or edited, please send an email to  [email protected]

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Why is Context Oriented Architecture Important For Ecotourism

In the course of time, architecture and tourism have been closely related activities. Universally, they both rely on each other. Tourism leads to overall development of the place. With the advent of modern architecture and usage of materials like concrete, the perspective towards building has also changed. Developing a tourist culture in an eco-sensitive place or where the modern facilities didn’t reach is a risky factor. Ecotourism is tourism developed on ecological surroundings of a particular place which has a unique ecology and has ability to attract tourists. So when it comes to ecotourism, architecture plays a wide role in its development as well as its working. For any place to generate tourism, architectural development is what one seeks apart from the attractions of the place. Context oriented architecture is mostly a byproduct of vernacular architecture . It is not always important that contextual architecture is vernacular . It depends on the surrounding of the place.

“Sustainability means need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Sustainability has been discussed over a period of years, especially when it comes to architecture. It is a subject way beyond. Architecture has always been a medium to elaborate art and culture of a space. Vernacular architecture is the best term which expresses “architecture based on surroundings”. The core of the idea of ecotourism lies in architecture as it has the power to express environment and culture through space.

Ecotourism is supported by architecture as it amalgamates with surroundings and represents the local life with a user experience. It helps to generate awareness for existing resources, craftsmanship, culture of a particular place as well as works as a support to economy and identity of the space. Moreover, there are two broader terms which one needs to understand: contextual architecture and vernacular architecture. Vernacular architecture can be contextual architecture whereas contextual architecture need not to be vernacular architecture always. Contextual architecture responds to the immediate context of the site which is universal to all kinds of areas whether urban or rural. Whereas vernacular architecture responds to the site surroundings which mainly includes materials and climate. Since vernacular architecture responds to various areas of building it can be said to be sustainable.

It forms from the surrounding and merges back to it with least possible harm. For eg, Bhunga houses of Kutch Desert, Gujarat, India which are vernacular as well as sustainable and as Kutch is famous for its White Desert among the tourists, the resorts and accommodations nearby are mostly Bhungas which gives a perfectly portrays the culture and architecture of the place as well as helps to maintain the ecology of the place by being vernacular and sustainable.

Reasons why architecture and eco-tourism are related

• Architecture expresses culture.
• Architecture helps to establish the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Construction style with respect to local craftsmanship, materials and climate.

Examples of Ecotourism

1. Save Farms, Dahanu, Maharashtra

Developed on the west coast of India, save farms is an ecotourist destination for people living in around 200 kms of radius. It is a great example of eco-tourism in terms that tourism can not only be able to sustain the ecology but also can help to enhance/generate the ecology of a place.

2. Boat Houses, Kerala

Kerala, is mostly known for its ecology and scenic beauty among tourists. It is a perfect example of eco-tourism as it is developed on the basis of boat houses, temple architecture and scenic beauties. The most famous among all these are the boat houses of Kerala which has enhanced the economy as well as also maintained the ecology of the backwaters of Alleppey, Alapuzzha etc.

3. Maldives

Group of islands famous for beaches and ecology, Maldives is one of the finest examples of ecotourism on a global scale. The tourism industry has helped to revive the economy of Maldives.

Thus, these examples help us to understand that not only the ecology of the place but the architecture of the place also helps to attract tourists. Hence, if the built environment is not context based it may not seek the number of tourists and the tourism industry in the same manner.

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The world’s first eco-tourism based safari resort in Africa by MASK Architects

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• January 20, 2023
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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

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Regenerative Tourism: Re-placing the Design of Ecotourism Facilities

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Eco-Tourism and its Architecture: A Methodological Framework for Assessing Progress towards Sustainable Development

This thesis proposes a composite framework for the evaluation of the environmental impact of tourism development on host destinations. In this study, the environmental impact of tourism is considered as a social-ecological phenomenon that can be categorized into the two aspects of natural and social-cultural impacts. Ecotourism is introduced as a type of sustainable tourism in that its policies and principles for development are based on conservation of environmental heritage (including natural and cultural heritage) via engagement of local people and communities in the tourism development process. The proposed composite framework arises from the integration of an ecological and a cultural framework for the sustainable development of tourism. This framework places the conservation of natural resources as the main ecological outcome for eco-tourism. The proposed framework uses the ecological footprint (EF) of the main tourism activities and services (including transportation, food and accommodation services) as the ecological indicator for evaluation of ecotourism development to ensure it is ecologically compatible. Ecological footprint (EF) is a way of measuring environmental impact. It assumes that everything needed for living, including all energy, goods and services can be obtained from land, and that any wastes produced can be absorbed by land (Wackernagel and Rees, 1996:9). Because land productivity varies considerably around the world the average global productivity is the normal measure, and this is called global hectares (gha). The ecological footprint of a product or activity produced/ consumed and conducted by a defined group of people can be measured through the following equation:  EF (gha) = Lifecycle energy use of a given group of people (product and activity pro-duced or conducted) Gigajoules (GJ) / carrying capacity of the Earth (GJ/gha).  The above equation determines the area required to produce resources and to absorb pollutants like carbon dioxide generated in the lifecycle energy use of the product or activity through using fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). Through using an ecological perspective, this thesis views culture as a system that links a group of people or a community to their surroundings through their use of local mate-rials and energies, and the production and consumption of products from these. The proposed framework determines the main cultural outcomes for ecotourism development such as conservation of heritage and making the host people aware of their cultural values. In addition, it introduces related activities such as social events, conservation of heritage and producing and consuming local products as contributive activities for achieving the outcomes stated above. Furthermore it investigates and refines a number of indicators that can be used as tools for evaluation of the cultural footprint of the development of ecotourism. Within these, local gross domestic product (GDP) as a social-economic indicator arising from tourism activities is also considered. This thesis concludes by presenting a case study of ‘The Otago Central Rail Trail’ (OCRT) as an example of ecotourism. The OCRT was introduced in the New Zealand Tourism Strategy (NZTS) for 2015 as a successful model for community-based development of sustainable tourism. The investigation reviews the impacts of the OCRT on natural and cultural heritage by using the framework developed in the thesis and its related ecological and cultural indicators. Through using the proposed holistic framework and the model for sustainable development of ecotourism, this thesis finds that, influenced by the development of the OCRT, many cultural heritage items including 60 bridges, 3 tunnels, and 78 buildings (used as OCRT accommodation services) have been refurbished. The restoration of this heritage can be considered as a policy that contributes to awareness of OCRT residents of their cultural heritage and identity. Likewise, as a part of the educational process related to ecotourism, this also makes an opportunity for OCRT visitors to learn about the cultural values of their host people. As shown in Table 5.84, in 2011, the total EF of 11,788 OCRT visitors including the EFs of the four categories of transportation, food, accommodation and activities is 1,617 gha (0.138 gha /visitor). In comparison with the EF of 0.03 gha/ visitor for sustainable tourism (see Table 5.86), the overshoot portion of the EF of the OCRT is equivalent to (0.138 – 0.03) 0.108 gha/ visitor. Likewise the total overshoot EF of 11,788 OCRT visitors is (11,788 visitors × 0.108 gha) 1,273 gha (see Table 5.86). This overshoot EF of the OCRT indicates that although the project has already been considered as a successful sustainable tourism project, still needs to reduce its total EF by 1,273 gha to be environmentally sustainable. As determined in Chapter 5 (see Table 5.88), the overshoot portion of the OCRT is calculated as 127,310.4 GJ/year. Since the costs to generate 1 GJ of overshoot energy use through using renewable energy sources (in this case wind + solar) is NZ$ 19.8, consequently the total cost to generate the overshoot energy use of the OCRT through using the latter systems (wind + solar) is equivalent to (127,310.4 GJ × NZ$ 19.8) NZ$ 2,720,746. Table 5.90 shows that in 2011, the total GDP of the OCRT is NZ$ 6,245,289 This means the total cost that must be spent to generate the overshoot portion of the OCRT energy use in a sustainable way (NZ$ 2,720,746) is 43.6% of its total GDP (NZ$ 6,245,289). Consequently the sustainable portion of the GDP (GDPs) of the OCRT is (NZ$ 6,245,289 – NZ$ 2, 720,746) NZ$ 3,524,543. The results of this thesis demonstrate that using local products (e.g. home prepared foods) as a sustainable cultural behavior not only contributes to the ability of the host destinations located along the OCRT (such as Naseby and Cromwell, used as further case studies) to present their cultural products, but also contributes to reduce the environmental impacts and increase the economic outcomes of the OCRT. For example, producing 17% (13,346.4 kg) of the total of 65165.05 kg consumed food as home prepared food reduces by 5.5% the ecological footprint related to the food consumed by OCRT visitors. As determined in Chapters 5 and 6, in three case studies, producing home prepared food contributes in a sustainable way to the increasing of the economic outcomes by about NZ$3.5 / kg of food produced. This thesis indicates that in all three case studies, using refurbished buildings as accommodation services, which is considered as an activity that contributes to preserving the cultural identity of the host destinations also contributes to reducing of environmental impacts and increasing the economic outcomes related to OCRT. For example in OCRT using 12.9% of bed space as refurbished buildings reduces by14.5% (7.3gha) the total 50.5 gha ecological footprint of accommodation services compared with when all accommodation buildings are assumed as new buildings. Chapters 5 and 6 determine that in OCRT using 21,378 m2 of refurbished buildings as accommodation services (12.9% of total bed spaces) increases by 5% the sustainable portion of GDP related to accommodation services. In Naseby also using refurbished buildings as accommodation services has the same sustainable ecological, cultural and economic outcomes as for the OCRT as a whole. The framework indicates the use of open air areas as being a cultural-ecological indicator for evaluation of architecture as being sustainable. Through using the framework, it is determined that using open air areas including balconies and verandas as part of OCRT accommodation buildings exerts environmentally friendly influences on the host destination. For instance in OCRT using 387 square meters of veranda and balcony as part of the 80,356m2 accommodation buildings decreases by 1.5% the total ecological footprint (50.5gha) of buildings used as accommodation services in OCRT. The thesis results demonstrate that an architecture that will contribute to sustainable development through ecotourism has a cultural footprint area in which the architecture contributes to the host societies knowing and preserving their cultural identity, capitals and heritages. Simultaneously, it contributes to reducing the environmental impacts and increasing the economic outcomes of the host societies through ecotourism. This thesis determines that since all ecological, cultural and economic characteristics of sustainable architecture are linked together, a strategy to develop sustainable architecture is successful when it considers the linkage between all of these profiles and influences that they exert on each other.

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• Other built environment and design not elsewhere classified

B.Arch Thesis: Eco-Tourist Hub of KHONOMA Village, By Shanjo A. Kithan, ITM University-Gwalior

• August 17, 2019

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Eco-tourism is one such activities which provide a solution by creating awareness and concern for the environment among both the tourist and local people of the region.

Also, the local skills could be developed and explored. The traditional and indigenous knowledge, along with scientific development can be explored.

Eco tourism Hub by itself, which talks about the tourism aspects of the context, creating a cultural Hub point which gives a platform for the villagers as well as the essence of the vernacular for the tourist.

The brief of the concept is to design an eco-tourism hub for the region of KHONOMA (Asia’s first green village) and the proximity near the region. Keeping in mind the local traditions, culture, art and Architecture .The design brief put an emphasis on the articulation of said traditions and their interpretation in modern times without losing the essence of the vernacularity.

KHONOMA is an Angami Naga village located about 20 km west from the state Capital, Kohima, Nagaland. The terrain of the village is hilly, ranging from gentle slopes to steep and rugged hillsides. The hills are covered with lush forestland, rich in various species of flora and fauna.

HORNBILL International Festival which is being celebrated for 10 days every year near this proximity which also creates a benchmark of this village.

This thesis talks about vernacular settlement which can achieve sustainability through planning, orientation, materials and architectural practices evolved from long time due to the socioeconomic, climatic and environmental factors of the Region

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

•To create an opportunity to the local people as well as for the tourist to get the essence of the context, keeping alive the essence of the context. •To design a better vision for tomorrow by keeping the Essence of the local regional context.

•Reprioritize the usage of the site based on the needs of the site demands. •To make the space a centre of public interaction and activities that reflects the people of the region.

•To engage the people by creating a hub in the village where they can learn, educate and understand each other. •To make use of the site’s assets in terms of creating a landmark for the urban fabric of Kohima people as well.

DESIGN BRIEF + PROGRAMME

The village of Khonoma (Asia’s first green village). As being said that the context of the site is a tourist spot and as the tourism is increasing each year people from around the world are travelling to see this beautiful village and the plus point is that there are many Tourism near the village which clearly states that there is a need for Eco-Tourism Hub in this arena.

Eco tourism is one such activities which will create an activities for the region. The local People gets the opportunity to expose their skills their economy to the tourist, which can create an important part of the hub.

The site will be developed with different types of components: 1. Weekly markets for the villagers, craft shops, Exhibition shops: where the villagers can get exposed and increase their growth of the economy. The market will run only on the basis of once in a week where they can sell all their organic crops or vegetables.

2. Museum: To reflect their culture, tradition and religion also to promote their legacy.

3. Workshop activities: where the tourist can educate the villagers and spread awareness and learn from one another.

The villagers can showcase their skills and even export their talents.

4. Accommodation unit for the tourist people: A home stay feeling accommodation unit for the tourist.

5.Library: It will provide a better exposure for the young generation of the surrounding villages.

6. O.A.T: Cultural program and festival season of recreational space.

DESIGN CONCEPT /APPROACH

The main challenge of design was a Site, which is having area of 92268sq.m. and facing NORTH To EAST direction also having contour difference of 40 meter. Main approach is to analyse with the existing contour and play with the levels. The existing site having contour along the river stream and the bridge is the only approach to the site.

Considering all the challenges, the design was to make ‘imperfect’ spaces with organic dynamism like villages.

With the start of the design development every space and area of the site were divided from part to whole. where every part of the space were defined according the use of the function like the open weekly market ,food stall ,craft shop ,museum ,library, OAT, Workshop area and the Accommodation unit which were segregated from each other but it was connected according to the function and use of the space.

Every function of the spaces were connected as per the user’s inferences. The general restaurant was at the core of the main area, the open market area was segregated totally from those main activities like the library, museum, workshop area, OAT and the Museum.

Although they are two different things we sense their interrelationship and emotional bond. Something very organic yet dynamic to be expressed by the site. The environment to be very vernacular with use of the roof of MORUNG style keeping alive the essence of the Region.

The Morung (or the traditional community house) at Khonoma Village. Acting as an educational institution, A Morung is where youngsters would gain their first few lessons of cultural & traditional knowledge through folk music, dance, folk tales and oral traditions. During the time of war, they were also used as used as a guard-house.

Design used the symbolism of that area through Morung.

VERNACULAR OF THE REGION

1.Use of the materials 2.local Materials, local skills, local technique 3.Keeping alive the essence of the village. 4. Implementing new technique design in terms of architectural thoughts, spaces, functions and purpose of the area. 5. New modern technologies design without losing the essence of the region

shanjo A Kithan

• B.Arch Thesis

13 Responses

I want detail sheet on mail for reffrence

Please contact if you were able to get through.I want to refer the report for my thesis as well.

Did you got the details?

I want study report of your thesis for reference

I want to know how to contact you for more details

Hey I loved your Concept, if possible could you share your Area statement or a list of requirements? it would be of great help to my thesis tooo!!!

can i please get your thesis report for reference.

Can I get your thesis report for reference please.

can I also have your details for my thesis.thank you

Can I get your thesis report for reference please

Please share the details that would be great help for my thesis

can you please describe which all case studies you reffered for the same

I have some doubts regarding concept sheet can you please clear my doubts

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Featured Houses

The little big house by knox bhaven, hertfordshire, england.

Photo © Edmund Sumner

Architects & Firms

Location : Hertfordshire, England Project size : 2,425 square feet

Program : Henry Fraser—an artist and author whose memoir inspired the musical The Little Big Things —was paralyzed in a sports accident as a teenager. At the time, in 2009, London-based Knox Bhavan adapted his parents’ house pro-bono to suit Fraser’s specific physical needs. Now, five doors down on the same street, the firm has designed a new energy-efficient house that offers Fraser more independence.

Design Solution : The T-shaped plan creates two gardens, oriented to maximize the sun’s seasonal movement and natural light. The large, sloped roof over the first floor takes advantage of this with integrated photovoltaics, and expansive glazing offers views and a direct relationship between inside and outside. A reflective soffit clad in aluminum extends around the building, providing Fraser with essential dry access from vehicle to house. The upper floor, which houses caregiver quarters, steps back and presents an elegant low-profile from the front drive.

Open-plan, double-height living spaces are organized around the turning circle of Fraser’s wheelchair and to facilitate easy interaction with guests, caregivers, and family. The central space connects seamlessly with the front courtyard and rear garden for entertaining. Fraser’s bedroom and bathroom maximize daylight and garden views through floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which can be easily opened for ventilation and access. A serene sky-lit studio, accessed from the front courtyard and linked to the house by a hallway, provides space for painting as well as meeting with commissioning clients.

Structure and Materials : The house utilizes the second evolution of a prefabricated cassette system co-developed by the practice. This system, customized to the client's brief and context, delivers an energy-efficient, high-quality environment with minimal wastage, fast construction, and good thermal performance. Taking into account Fraser’s preference for a minimal aesthetic, hard and durable finishes, such as a concrete floor and painted joinery, were chosen for interiors. Weathering, self-finished materials are used externally, including larch timber for the elevations and aluminum and zinc on the roof.

Additional Information Completion date : December 2021 Site size : 0.18 acres Total construction cost : Withheld Client/Owner : Henry Fraser

Photos © Edmund Sumner

Images courtesy Knox Bhaven; click to enlarge

Architect Knox Bhavan 69 Choumert Road LondonSE15 4AR (+44) 20 7635 9911 www.knoxbhavan.com

Project Team Fergus Knox, project architect; Sasha Bhavan, partner

Engineers Structural: Structure Workshop Timber frame: Price & Myers Services: Paul Bastick Associates

Consultants Quantity services: Ian Thomson & Company Landscape: AJG Design

General Contractor Philiam Construction

Photographer Edmund Sumner

Specifications

Exterior Cladding Wood : Sawn larch timber cladding with SiOO:X coating Moisture barrier : Tyvek UV facade

Roofing Built-up roofing : Blokbuild cassette system Metal: Zinc standing seam roof

Windows Metal Frame : Compass Glass

Doors Entrances : Joinery by Five Furniture Sliding doors : Sliding timber pocket doors

Hardware Locksets : Banham Pulls : Allgood

Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork : Joinery by Five Furniture Solid surfacing : Duepoint Corian Resilient flooring : Polished concrete floor by Lazenby

Furnishings Supplied by client

Lighting Interior ambient lighting : iGuzzini Downlights: Mr Resistor Exterior : Astro

Conveyance Accessibility provisions : Taylor Dolman hoist – Guldmann GH3 rail type A

Plumbing Geberit, Duofix WC frame; Duepoint Corian under-counter basin; ProofVision waterproof bathroom TV

Energy Photovoltaic system : UK Solar Generation Other unique products that contribute to sustainability : Green roof Additional building components or special equipment that made a significant contribution to this project: Hoist system by Taylor Dolman

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Union Budget 2024 key highlights

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The key highlights of the pivotal tax and policy changes proposed in the Union Budget 2024, along with the sectoral impact

Delighted to provide you the key highlights of the pivotal tax and policy changes proposed in the Union Budget 2024, along with the sectoral impact. The budgetary allocations underscore a strong commitment to enhance employment, skill development, support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and the welfare of the middle class.

The proposed budgetary framework is strategically structured around nine core pillars, each aimed at fostering a robust ecosystem for growth and prosperity. 

These priorities include:

• Productivity and resilience in Agriculture
• Employment & Skilling
• Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice
• Manufacturing and Services
• Urban Development
• Energy Security
• Infrastructure
• Innovation, Research and Development
• Next Generation Reforms

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