Page 15 - U4SSC Case study: Affordable housing and social inclusion, June 2020

Figure 4: Beach cocoon

Resembling a leopard paw print, each cluster overlooks a watering hole designed to attract wildlife. The
spa is set back from the beachfront. From afar, the large pavilions appear solid but on closer inspection,
they are revealed as light, open structures crafted from a woven gridshell bamboo structure clad in
reclaimed teak shingles. Large, arched openings and high vaulted ceilings create a strong sense of
space. The existing vegetation is retained to ensure an authentic experience of the landscape.

The cocoon-like guest accommodation was inspired by the caterpillar's process of metamorphosis. The
tensile membrane structures have minimal physical impact on the site but maximum resistance to the
strong coastal winds and large animals (notably elephants) that roam the site. A 70 mm layer of locally
sourced insulation was sandwiched between the recyclable external membrane and internal liner to
reduce passive solar gain. The low-emissivity, double-glazed facades on either end of the building
ensure that the tents have excellent thermal performance when cooled. In addition, LED lighting and
an inverter AC unit with heat recovery for hot water was put in to reduce the electrical load.

Wastewater from the buildings is channelled to the sewage treatment plant, where it is purified and
then recycled into the five ponds for tertiary treatment and irrigation of the xeriscape.

The restaurant and welcome area seating is made from site-sourced clay bricks, which were coated
in an elephant dung/clay render. The pathways throughout the project are made from site-sourced
laterite gravel from the excavation of the ponds, which was then sieved – the clay was used for render,
the gravel for the pathways and the large rocks were using in drainage channels.

In addition, the resort has 155 kw solar PV array, 885 litres of solar hot water capacity and a biogas plant.

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