Trojena masterplan embraces "Holistic Harmony": Lucas Kronawitter

In a presentation at the Cityscape conference in Riyadh, LAVA project director Lukas Kronawitter shed light on the guiding principles behind the Trojena ski resort masterplan, a key component of the Neom project in Saudi Arabia. Kronawitter outlined how the project aims to seamlessly integrate mountainous landscapes with tourist developments.

LAVA, the firm responsible for the masterplan, designed the buildings to serve as an "extension" of the natural surroundings. Kronawitter described one notable feature, "The Vault," as being intricately woven into the mountain, acting as a gateway that offers breathtaking views of the lake, valley, and the surrounding landscape to all who visit or reside there.

 

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He continued, "People have been building and utilizing the natural properties of live rock to create cool environments – and now we've done this in a vertical setting. The same could be said about the ski village; for example, it's an extension of the mountain."

Kronawitter asserted that this approach fosters harmony between the tourist development, which includes a ski resort and a 330-meter-high tower designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and the natural landscape. He stated, "People both experience the architecture and the natural landscape at once – there's a holistic harmony to the different components of the master plan that also creates diversity and variety that can be experienced at a daily level for the residents."

 

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Trojena, announced last year, is planned as a mountainous tourist destination in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk region, forming part of the broader Neom development. Masterminded by LAVA, it will feature a man-made lake surrounded by hotels and residences. One mountain will host the LAVA-designed ski resort, while the other will boast the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed skyscraper.

Kronawitter emphasized that the resort's design, featuring 3,620 hotel rooms, was directly inspired by the area's mountains and geographic elements. He noted, "Context is how you traditionally set your parameters, develop your vision, etc. Here at Trojena, however, we didn't have a built environment. Instead, what we had was an absolutely incredible and inspiring natural environment that, because of the variety of the terrain, almost behaved and acted formally, like a city."

 

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He added that the Trojena project provides an opportunity to explore broader concepts of sustainable cities, noting, "Being asked to work on the home, taking the challenge on to build the land of the future – that's no small task. For a long time, we believe that the key to creating sustainable cities is essentially putting together humankind and natural systems a bit more closely."

Trojena is one of four regions within the Neom project, alongside plans for an Octagon-shaped port city by BIG, an island resort, and a 170-kilometer-long city called The Line. The Line project has garnered attention, both positive and negative, for its immense scale and impact, with concerns raised about sustainability, livability, and human rights. Amnesty International's Peter Frankental urged companies involved in Neom to consider their role in the project, highlighting the "moral dilemma" they face.

Source: https://www.dezeen.com/