Banyan Tree AlUla features 47 new tented suites ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. The public areas include two gourmet restaurants, as well as a luxury spa. A signature swimming pool sits in a natural crevice in the rocks, reminiscent of the Wadis which appears at the foot of the cliffs during rain spells.

The interior design is a modern interpretation of the Bedouin way of life. Throughout the resort, spaces are designed with patterns inspired by Nabataean nomadic Arab tribes and traditional motifs, evoking the rich cultural heritage of Ashar. The colors of the desert are reflected in the color palette used throughout the design. Terraces extend from the interior spaces with the canvas tent covering above. The bespoke furniture design expresses a sense of nomadic culture and patterns inspired by the Nabataean and traditional motifs are used throughout, evoking the rich cultural heritage of Ashar.

Various sand colored canvas and terracotta renders were carefully chosen to blend with its surrounding, the architecture is designed as a landscape. The spa facades were formed using compacted sand, the variation of horizontal colored sand lines matching with the rock formations in the background. Privacy and shelter therefore go hand in hand at the resort, creating an intimate environment where the breath-taking views are individually framed.

Away from the tents, there is a spa building and pool which is hidden in a natural cove that sits at the bottom of a rocky cliff, the site is naturally in the shade. The free-standing units are made of compacted sand walls: layers of sand of different colors that merge with the surroundings. This ancient building technique is similar to the way adobe walls are traditionally made. Nearby, the swimming pool seamlessly blends in the environment. Far from being square, it mimics the shape of a natural pool at the bottom of the cliffs. The connection between rocks and water was recreated as the latter is naturally collected from the surrounding hills in the AlUla desert.

AW² took an environmentally friendly, ‘light touch' approach to the design which aims to blend the hotel seamlessly with the natural scenery of the Ashar valley. Each suite is composed of a simple platform and a solid structure evoking the neighboring rocks. Various sand-colored canvases were used to create natural ventilation between the roof and the tent, as well as providing sun protection. This three-tiered design creates soft roof lines blending the architecture into the existing landscape. To emphasize the light touch approach in the development of the vast site, paths and walkways were designed as trails in the sand. Guests travel through a landscape of sand dunes allowing them to get closer to nature. In this way, the footprint of the resort is reduced to a minimum and the site’s natural habitat is preserved. The use of local resources, craftsmanship and minerals further minimizes the project’s carbon footprint.