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AssetID: 40991529

Headline: Plans Unveiled For Amazing Cave Hotel In Saudi Arabian Desert

Caption: Plans have been unveiled for a jaw-dropping subterranean hotel set to carved into a sandstone hill in the Saudi Arabian desert. ‘The Sharaan by Jean Nouvel’ Resort concept would be located in the AlUla area of outstanding natural and historical significance. The Royal Commission for AlUla for Saudi Arabia (RCU) say French architect Jean Nouvel’s design is “set to be completed by 2024”. It will include 40 guest suites and three resort villas, while a retreat summit centre near the resort will feature 14 private pavilions. Designs show Jean Nouvel's modern take on millennia-old Nabataean ways of living with monumental designs carved into the rocks that sustainably respect and preserve AlUla's landscape by drawing on concepts from the nearby Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sharaan by Jean Nouvel Resort will be a key element of the RCU's strategy to develop AlUla as a global destination for culture, heritage, and eco-tourism. It is designed within The Charter of AlUla, a framework document that includes 12 guiding principles that commits The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to long-term future development. It will also contribute to the region's diversified economy through a Retreat Summit Centre and restaurants. Amr AlMadani, CEO of RCU, said: "These concepts, which showcase Jean Nouvel's masterly innovation in architecture, underscore our commitment to developing AlUla as a global tourism destination without compromising the history, heritage, and landscape of AlUla. We are a destination built by artists. Sharaan by Jean Nouvel will build on that legacy to become a timeless landscape-architecture that will last forever – a gift to the world." As the concepts were unveiled 27 Oct, 2020, architect Jean Nouvel described AlUla as "The coming together of a landscape and history; The history of past civilisations in an extraordinary landscape – the only place to create such a masterpiece."

Keywords: odd; oddity; offbeat; quirky; weird; amazing; interesting; cool; science; tech; technology; design; architect; architecture; future; futuristic; concept; shelter; ancient; travel; destination; vacation; resort; hotel; holiday

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