South Africa – Architecture and design firm Mask has imagined a safari resort that produces its own water. The country has suffered severe droughts in recent years, with water supply rationed in key cities.
The eco-conscious Baobab Luxury Safari Resort has been proposed as an idyllic getaway in nature where guests are invited to interact with wildlife and live out their treehouse fantasies in baobab tree-shaped lodges that are 3.5 metres off the ground. Set in the South African forest, each treehouse will be fitted with Mask Architects’ solar-powered Air-to-Water technology, which produces water by extracting moisture from humid air. This water is purified through pipes installed in the lodges, providing hydration for guests for the duration of their stay, and is also collected in tanks at the resort and eventually delivered to local communities suffering from water shortages. Mask Architects says: ‘With this project, our goal is to make the most basic need of water accessible rather than a luxury experience.’
With sustainability at the front of their minds, in Empowered Travel we detail how travellers are seeking out tourist spots that make an effort to embrace nature.
Strategic opportunity
Consumers are increasingly conscious of the ways in which global travel can harm local environments; offer authentic experiences that make an effort to support local environments and communities