THE SLEEPER MAGAZINE : Ashar Tented Resort

French architecture studio AW2, led by Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, has been selected by The Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU) in partnership with the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) to design a luxury tented resort on an untouched site in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley. Operated under Accor’s Banyan Tree brand, the development comprises 47 tented suites, a spa and several gourmet restaurants, all of which will pay homage to the picturesque surroundings and developed in line with AW2’s light-touch approach. “Our architecture responds to the fragility of the site and aims not only to restore but also to protect it from future harm by consciously addressing the balance of man and nature,” say Amalou and Ledoux. “The concept involves harnessing the natural beauty of the landscape with a project that seamlessly integrates into the site.”