Life & Style | Leisure
Under the Banyan Tree
Known for its strong, graceful image, this tropical tree has inspired the Banyan Tree brand for years. The company's latest conservation effort is the Banyan Tree Al Wadi.
- By Lena Moosa, Features Editor, InsideOut
- Published: 00:00 July 1, 2010
Nearing the unassuming, sandy pillared entrance of the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, little does one know of the sheer adventure that is to unfold once the tall wooden doors open. Pillared pathways and passages envelop courtyards featuring water pools and urns. All very standard Arabian in style, yet very tasteful and humble, and lacking in that ostentatious glamour that has become synonymous with high-end UAE hospitality.
The resort is nestled in Wadi Khadeja, Ras Al Khaimah, the surrounding land painted with dunes and vegetation. Further into the ‘wilderness', Arabian oryx and gazelles proudly trot, some looking up as curiosity draws them towards the golf buggy that is carting us around this 100- hectare reserve. Low level, sand-coloured structures house the lobby area, restaurants, spa facilities and activity centres, and have an equally non-invasive façade, so as not to steal the limelight from the surrounding landscape. Clearly, here at the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, nature and wildlife is king.
"The interface between the desert and the resort is intended to be as seamless as possible, providing guests with the experience of staying within the desert," says David Barclay, assistant vice president of Design of Architrave Design Planning, the award-winning design firm responsible for Banyan Tree resorts worldwide. "Through the design and architecture of our resorts, we promote the uniqueness of the indigenous cultures. Each Banyan Tree resort is designed to blend into its natural surroundings, using locally-made materials as far as possible and reflecting the landscape and architecture of the destination."
Winding cobbled paths lead away from the main building, weaving through the gentle undulating dunescape to the accommodation villas, Al Rimal Deluxe villas, and the Al Khaimah and Al Sahari tented pool villas, both uniquely designed and stunning in their own right. The Al Rimal villas have a deeper terracotta appeal, squareish with clean lines. "This design was inspired by the atypical architectural style of traditional mud-brick housing that can still be seen in Ras Al Khaimah today, which are square blocks with private courtyards," says David. "For the tented pool villas, we were inspired by the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouin. We created a modernised version of the tents by structuring them on a raised platform for better views and privacy, and added a personal infinity swimming pool built with deep blue mosaic to represent an oasis of water." The higher-end tented pool villas offer a truly Bedouin feel from the architecture down to the detailing, furnishings and accessories, but it's sheer size takes your breath away. The interiors are decorative yet understated with not a dot of primary colour. Golds, beiges and off-whites languidly stretch over the sweeping 253 square metres of space, which encompasses a very large bedroom and equally sizeable his and hers bathroom. Mashrabiya patterns mingle with soft egg-shell toned chandeliers featuring the most delicate Arabian motifs in coffee tones. The genius of design in these tented villas lies in the simple yet effective kidney-shape architecture, the crescent allowing for maximum privacy.
"We used elements of typical regional architecture, such as polished wood, high ceilings and elaborate Arabic touches of lattice woodwork, stylised motifs and intricate carvings," says David. Stretching out on a double bed on your very own pool deck, facing your very own infinity pool that melts into the dunes beyond, the Banyan Tree Al Wadi certainly offers you your very own little slice of bliss. "In addition, the landscape was kept as natural-looking as possible, by planting typical desert flora such as cattails, ghaf and sidr trees, and the villas were kept a neutral colour so as to blend seamlessly into the desert background." Living in a lavish resort culture country such as the UAE, and being overdosed with ‘manicured to the hilt' landscaping, the natural untouched appearance of the Banyan Tree's surroundings provide welcome respite. The landscaping (or lack of) also cradles and beautifully complements the ancient village style architecture. "The design intent or concept is that of an Arabian ‘oasis of indulgence'," says David. "At the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, I believe that we have married the perfect design balance of Arabian architectural heritage with Banyan Tree's Asian roots."
The spa, as expected, is true to the standards expected of Banyan Tree resorts worldwide. However, the designers have really gone to town with the facility at Ras Al Khaimah, creating a moody, exotic interior with touches of palace living without any obtrusive glamour. Worth a mention, actually worth an entire speech, is the Rainforest, a state-of-the-art hydrothermal circuit and the first of its kind in the Middle East. But little do you know what to really expect till you enter the indoor vitality pool area, the first step before starting the walk through the exciting watery ‘jungle'. You are instantly transported into a modern version of the Turkish cisterns, with granite colours, stone shades, lights in greens and blues, reflecting off a watery enclave. The cave-like quality of design helps to shut the world out.
Since the Banyan Tree Al Wadi is a dedicated nature reserve, the creatures living on its sprawling lands only add to the experience and design. Staff prefer using buggies or bicycles, and the pervading atmosphere is very much of an Arabian safari. "For this emirate, sustainability has always been a guiding factor in its development and this unique project reflects our commitment to the preservation of our biodiversity and natural heritage," said Shaikh Mohammad Bin Saud Al Qasimi, son of Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at the resort's inauguration.
Beige tones and simple, almost staid architecture styles define the activity centre, the safari look complemented by tent style, off-white awnings. General manager Pascale Eppink parks his bicycle to join us in the company of falcons, the awe-inspiring golden eagle, and two strikingly gorgeous owls, ‘Google' and ‘Yahoo'. He gives us a tour, pointing out the various birds, their ages and origins, as well as the school where guests can get proper coaching on the age-old Bedouin tradition of falconry. "This is the first of several projects that we are planning to implement at Banyan Tree Al Wadi, as part of our company's belief and philosophy in corporate social responsibility governance," says Pascale. "Within the resort," says David, "we tried to create interest points such as the watering-hole for the animals overlooked by Saffron, our signature Banyan Tree restaurant. We have watchtowers on higher ground, and falconry mews with a viewing deck."
The surroundings, activities and the pared down design style of the Banyan Tree Al Wadi in no way lessens its design value and luxury quotient. The gems in its interiors are far from glaring, instead seeping through the surface, teasing elegantly. This is one resort where the beauty of the interiors and the architecture is not just a visual experience but one that is absorbed slowly and has a lasting effect.
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