Publicerat på PLANET Magazines blogg den 5 juni 2009
Interesting things are happening in the south of Senegal a few miles northwest of Dakar. Edouard François, the architect known for his innovative green establishments, is rebuilding the old Les Almadies Club Med creating a sustainable holidaymakers paradise.
The 250 rooms – made of clay, wheat and wood – are perhaps best described as wooden bird’s nests, or cocoons, as they rest above ground elevated by poles. The location of the resort is stunning with the North Atlantic Ocean on one side and a lagoon on the other. To provide the guests with a full view each of the rooms have 360-degree windows.
- In our daily life we normally only have windows facing one way, maybe two, but never all the way round. A 360-degree view means that you are free, he says.
François has become known as one of the entrepreneurs of green architecture and the new Club Med is no exception.
- With this place I want to do something that is very poetic and unusual and that also deals with ecology. We have a very high level of ecological ambition for the project and are aiming to become self-sufficient.
To achieve sustainability François has been employing green initiatives including solar energy and the use of cold water from the North Atlantic to serve as both the cooling for the swimming pool and air conditioning for the hotel restaurant.
The construction materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the furniture is made out of recyclable materials.
To François it is also important to use local workers and materials.
- I want to develop a very local way and challenge the local use of materials, construction and art, he says, explaining that the bar is made of recycled bicycle wheels, a local way to manufacture materials.
The new Club Med will be opening its doors in December 2010.