The area for construction in accordance with the principles of environmentally friendly, energy-efficient architecture will be the Jabar al-Akdar (Green Mountain) area with a total area of 5.5 thousand square meters. km in Eastern Libya. WWF experts call this zone “one of the last ten Mediterranean paradises”. The coast of this sea has been almost completely developed by humans, and therefore there are practically no natural ecosystems preserved there. All the more valuable is the almost untouched coastal line of Libya with a length of 1,600 km, and its especially well-preserved section of Jabar al-Akdar, 220 km long. Also "Green Mountain" is famous for its historical monuments. Its borders roughly coincide with the historical region of Cyrenaica, with its center in the city of Cyrene. Ancient Greek temples, public buildings and a necropolis, as well as Roman and early Christian buildings of this Greek colony from the island of Fera, which existed since the 7th century, have survived to this day. BC e. to 7 century. n. e.
It is this combination of natural beauties and historical monuments that stand out for their significance even in the Maghreb region rich in ancient structures, and made Jabar al Akdar an ideal starting point for a new round of development of the country. Libya, which has been an outcast in the world community for a long time, is trying to enter the "civilized world" by offering large developers, leaders of the hotel business and the tourism industry to create a new type of resort there.
Norman Foster's workshop has been working on this project since July 2007, so so far only a pilot is ready. It provides for the construction of three deluxe hotels; they will all be located far enough from the coast not to disturb its ecosystem. This is especially important, since only off the coast of Libya is the only tuna spawning site in the Mediterranean, and rare species of turtles and seals breed.
All new hotels will use natural ventilation, solar energy, and local building materials. One of them, built on the edge of the gorge, will even be almost indistinguishable among the rocky landscape; its windows will be as deep as possible into the walls so that the glazing does not shine in the sun. At the same time, the hotel complex will include an “infinity pool” on the edge of the abyss, which will allow guests to enjoy the views of Jabar al Akdar.
The project involves the construction of new cities and towns for local residents, also environmentally friendly and in line with the traditions of urban planning in the Arab world. They will receive electricity with the help of wind turbines and solar panels, and the waste will be processed into biofuel.
Time will show how feasible such a noble and at the same time profitable initiative in an area where there is not even an airport yet.
