An international team from Kuwait and the USA have been recognized for their Gunoot eco resort built in Oman. The proposal is a departure from the usual type of resort development and uses earth as the primary construction material.
An important aspect of the scheme is that local labour can be used. With some training the buildings can be created without the use of high-tech or heavy equipment and it creates local employment and a new skills base.
The construction technology has been studied by the California Institute of Earth Architecture and is described as super Adobe. It was first developed by the founder of the institute the late Architect Nader Khalili.
Super Adobe effectively comes down to filling bags with earth that are then rammed solid before being layered with more earth-filled bags. In this case self supporting domes were built that were eventually daubed over with a plaster. This is composed of a mixture of soil and water with some kind of reinforcement, in this case old fishing nets, but often straw which can also provide insulation. Local stone is used for the floors. The project will continue to be built by locals to create an entire low density resort.
The project won the World Architecture festival category 2012 Future Projects – Leisure led development category.
The team included:
Dar SSH International Engineering Consultants, Kuwait
California Institute of Earth Architecture, USA
SSH International, Kuwait
