Using Awe-Inspiring Settings For Luxury Resort Development
The Belmond Eagle Island Lodge sits in the heart of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. With a beautiful location like that, which has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, it makes sensUsing Awe-Inspiring Settings For Luxury Resort Development The Belmond Eagle Lodge sits in the heart of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. With a beautiful location like that, which has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, it makes sense that travelers from all over the world would want to enjoy the area. The lodge closed for 10 months to undergo some transformations and those changes met a few challenges. For example, because of its status, none of the structures could be permanent. The whole lodge has to be able to be broken down and removed so that it looks like no one was ever there.
History Behind Eagle Island Camp
The camp is one of the oldest in the region and was founded in the early 1980s as a basic lodge with reed huts and local grass roofs. It was upgraded by Belmond in 1997 and then again in 2016. The lodge has always had 12 guest rooms, but now it also has an extra Tour Leader room.
The Re-Design For Resort Development
The primary objective in the renovation was to maximize the phenomenal views of the delta from the public areas. Developers also wanted the building to interact with the water’s edge and the wildlife when the flood season comes. There are three main public areas the lounge, the bar and the dining room. They needed to be interconnected under one roof that covers the public area. The biggest challenge was removing the building made of brick from the site and turn it into a disposable site. The biggest environmental change was going from diesel power to electricity through a hybrid solar plant.
Remaining Mindful Of The Environment
The biggest hurdle to overcome, and be thankful for, was the location sensitivity and the greater ecological impact any renovations would have. The developers wanted to have a visually exciting space that was of high quality and would be considered state of the art, but it also needed to have a balance between functionality and renewability. This took design creativity and responsible framework. The aggressive climate conditions of the area also drove the selection of materials to come up with something that would perform long-term.
Revolutionary Resort Development
Overall, the result was a wall construction methodology that included canvas tents. The popular choice for luxury tents, they are durable and low maintenance after they got waterproofing products as a part of the wall structure. The system is appealing for eco-buildings and can easily be taken down and moved away if needed.
The Experiential Traveler’s Delight
The idea that these buildings are a part of nature and can even be taken away and moved to another location just heighten the journey for travelers looking for a true experience. Being in these buildings and seeing the sights while enjoying the structures themselves is something that not many people will get to do in their lifetime. The opportunity is limited as the buildings may eventually be moved and taken down, as they were designed to do.