Carved into the mountain’s rugged landscape, the resort is a uniquely compelling space set amidst juniper shrubs, rose bushes and scattered, ageless rock. Inspired by surrounding ancient forts, mud-brick villages and castles, the design pays homage to the mountain, with striking views of the gorge and Hajar mountain range providing a dramatic backdrop. Designed by award-winning French-Moroccan architect Lotfi Sidirahal from ‘Atelier Pod’, celebrated for creating harmony between architecture, interior and landscape, the resort reflects its culturally rich and diversely vibrant background. Prior to the design, Lotfi and his team spent considerable time exploring the surrounding area, meeting with inhabitants of the mountains and visiting abandoned villages to immerse themselves into the culture and ensure the resort stays true to the charm and intrigue of its locale. Inspiration has been drawn from the layout of the local villages to create a peaceful landscape filled with fragrant rose bushes, indigenous fruit trees, lush green terraces and al falaj water features, which mirror Oman’s typical system of irrigation channels.
