ECO RESORT | 2018 2.11 | DESERT RESORT MANDAWA, RAJASTHAN | Location: Mukandgarh Raod, Mandawa Mandawa ,Bikaner highway, Mandawa - 333704, Rajasthan, Distance from Delhi Airport: 245 kms (approx.) Distance from Jaipur Airport: 180 kms (approx.) Distance from Jaipur Railway Station: 196 km(approx) . Distance from Mukundgarh railway station: 16 km(approx) Distance from Mandawa: 1.4 kms (approx.) ‘THE DESERT RESORT: The Desert Retort at Mandawa is built a top a magnificent sand dune flanking the acres of desert landscape. The desert resort, a unique and charming retreat, is a verdant oasisin the midst of stark desert terrain that offers panoramic views of all around.ECO RESORT | 2018 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY : This resort indicates that it is within the realms of possibility to effectively combine modern creature comforts with the very basic rural dwellings .The suites are designed in a cluster of buildings that constitute one house ‘and are grouped around a courtyard. These cluster then come together to form the main villages street. Figure 29 COTTAGES Figure 30 POOL WITH CABANAS MATERIALS : In this project, mud was mainly used. Mud was not only cheaper but also the most appropriate both, dlimatically and aesthetically. Locally available materials were used for construction.For the structures sun dried bricks where used. Ci the sun dried mud bricks for the walls were made on site. C1 local sandstone was used for door and window frames as Cl well as brackets, lintels & roof slabs. Ci concentrie circle with bamboo strips holding the straw together. O Timber. Ci thatched roof. stone slab polished and paint. 1 wooden door and windows. Othe indigenous cooling system ,khas tatti window unit system. aeECO RESORT | 2018 ZONNING : The site is divided into two zones the built zone covering an area of 3 acres and the unbuilt zone covering an area of 33 acres. 18| PageECO RESORT | 2018 SITE PLAN: ENTRANCE LOUNGE BAR KITCHEN DINNING ROOM Pe 001 WEDDING POOL Towers PLATFORM FOR PERFROMANCE FARMERS HOUSE BATHAK SUIT KITCHEN STORE (WEAVERS HOUSE KITCHEN UNIT ‘STORE UNITECO RESORT | 2018 DESIGN CONCEPT In this project, mud was mainly used. Mud was not only cheaper but also the most appropriate - both, dimatically and aesthetically. Locally available materials were used for construction. The sun-dried bricks came from the bed of a dried out tank, adjacent to the hillock. The thatch came from the grass growing on the site itself, the stone for the foundations, sills, lintels brackets and roofing slabs and other built in furniture came from Ragunathgarh (25 kms. away). The wooden lathe workers from Laxmangarh were to make a peg ‘and other small fixtures. The local village carpenters (Khatis) were to put together and the carve them the local masons were to build the structures, and the women from the near by villages were to hand plaster and finish the wails with moldings, relief work, embedded mirror work and also mould in mud. elements, such as choolas, platforms, grain bins a stores etc. and finally draw on the walls. COTTAGES The huts/cottages were actually supposed to form a cluster of 8 huts in which 2 huts are meant to represent the farmers’ huts, three weavers’ huts and three potters hut. They are not placed in a row nor do they share common walls. Each unit is @ separate unit and unique and yet a part of the whole cluster. Spaces have been created for social interaction. A chakki (stone flourmill) a grinding stone etc. is embedded in the platform & steps outside the huts to indicate how people interact and socialize in rural areas. The cottages are built on brick foundation.The walls, sleeping platform, etc are made of brick plastered with mud and covered with cow-dung.Outside the walls and windows are decorated with motifs painted. Each hut is unique, what they all have in common are creature comforts provided which are a bit incongruous with the surrounding. The walls have niches for old-lamps and very quaint mini-windows even have wire mesh to prevent insects from invading the interiors. Windows provide light as well as ventilation though they are small in size. Floors are plasters with cow-dung roofs of some of the huts are thatched while others have stone slab roof which have been left without polish and paint 20/PECO RESORT | 2018 PLANNING AND SPATIAL ORGANISATION The entry to the complex is through a gateway sort of cut-out from where one can see the cluster of mud huts in the framework of a typical Shekhawati style gateway. The 3m. Wide pathway leads to the huts. After one enters the entrance lobby, the reception and office is just adjacent to the main entry from where visitors can easily access the restaurant, bar and the huts. Opposite the reception is a lounge that is sunk by 0.6 m. and the corridor passes along the lobby overlooking it. LANDSCAPE All the pathways are paved in brick and are flanked by hedges 3height on each side. No big trees are seen in the resort due to poor soil conditions. Only old trees are present which give a feeling of being sculpted. An ‘open dining area presents a magnificent view of the landscape stretching ahead for miles. Light fixtures are placed in the gardens & courtyards to sit and enjoy in night. A conical Obri with thatched roof and small openings has been made as a landscape element to give a real effect of a village 21|Page