In the sands of the African Namib desert, next to the rusty wrecks of ships, an eco-hotel has appeared, ready to receive two dozen guests. It was built in one of the most severe and inhospitable places on the planet - on the Skeleton Coast. The hotel complex was named Shipwreck Lodge, which can be translated as “Shipwreck Shelter”; the exterior of the bungalow really resembles ships thrown onto dry land. The project was carried out by an architectural studio from the capital of Namibia Windhoek Nina Maritz Architects.
The dense fog that almost always shrouds the Coast, shoals, fast currents and strong winds create extremely dangerous conditions for navigation. Often the voyage ended in the death of the crew and passengers. Those who managed to survive after the shipwreck found their death on the shore: within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, they could not find either drinking water or any food.
Winds blowing from the desert constantly carry sand into the water, thereby pushing the coastline into the Atlantic Ocean. For this reason, many ships that crashed decades ago now rest far from water, among sandy landscapes. One of the most famous is the steamer
"Edward Bohlen", run aground off the coast of Namibia in 1909. For a hundred years, it has retired from the bay for half a kilometer.
The Shipwreck Lodge site is located in the Skeleton Coast National Park and the key point of the terms of reference was minimal disturbance to the natural environment. In addition, under the terms of the agreement with the national park, the hotel will need to be dismantled in 25 years.
Wood was chosen as the building material. Firstly, it organically fits into the surrounding landscape, secondly, it is "stable", and thirdly, it is able to withstand the tests of humid and salt-saturated air. To minimize environmental damage, bungalow façade panels were prefabricated in Windhoek and assembled on site.
The exterior of the houses resembles destroyed ships: in the part of the dwelling that looks like the hull of a ship lying on the side, there is a bedroom, and on the "bow" there is a bathroom.
Bungalows in this place far from civilization are provided with a high level of comfort and service; guests have access to laundry, water and electricity supply, sewerage. The sun provides the hotel with energy.
