In order to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations of the desert setting, Ashmore has primarily relied on locally sourced stone or concrete construction whose substantial thermal mass reduce heating and cooling loads as well as harmoniously blend in with the existing building fabric. Meanwhile, by sticking to compact, cubic volumes wherein a series of courtyards, patios, and roof terraces are intimately ensconced, the Lodge’s outdoor spaces are well protected from rain and sand storms whereas features such as loggias, overhangs and fins provide much needed shade.

In juxtaposition with the subdued colours of the original building fabric, the rusted hues of the Corten steel surfaces create clearly defined thresholds and boundaries and mark Ashmore’s architectural interventions. Alluding to the area’s rich iron deposits, they also elegantly jazz up the monochromatic sensibility of the stone and concrete volumes as well as “add refinement and precision to the design, particularly for over-sailing roofs, shading elements and also terrace decks raised above the level of the sands”, as Ashmore explains, as do additional materials like teak hardwoods and plastered-renders (which also have the advantage of longevity in the face of the harsh climate).

The cubic geometry and austere refinement of the exterior is carried on in the lodge’s interiors, which along with the furniture, have also been designed by ANARCHITECT. Blessed with either carefully framed views or wide vistas of the natural surroundings, every space is closely connected to the desert landscape. Even when they go to bed, guests fall asleep under the star-filled sky courtesy of strategically placed skylights.

With only five guest rooms, Al Faya Lodge & Spa has been conceived as an intimate, one-of-a-kind retreat and in fact the venue must be booked in its entirety which allows guests to enjoy the spa and salt-water pool in complete privacy as well as the other amenities, from the indoor library and dining area to the fire-pit and viewing deck. In this respect, more than offering a chance to get away from everything, the lodge allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the primordial purity of the desert.