Up-cycle design for an existing Spa facility
Studio-RMA has expanded its services to consulting on renewable energy systems for larger eco-tourism projects as well as consultation on 'Up-Cycling' existing resorts. Studio RMA, with international contacts in the 'Clean Tech' industry, works as a consultant to engineers, architects and developers of large scale resorts in the Caribbean Pacific and Brazil.
Review Studio RMA's design with the 2007 Icehotel in Sweden
The buzzword is emerging: What is the new look of large-scale eco-tourism?
The larger companies are looking at shifts in the market and consumer demand. How to become green and how to get a "Green Certificate" , either via LEED or via GLOBAL GREEN.
More then that, how to create an architectural language that identifies the 'Look' of the resort as green and eco-conscious.
Studio-RMA is strategically positioned to consult with architects, engineers and developers to obtain these goals. Its knowledge of sustainable building systems - its experience with off-shore and international projects - its connections with integrated renewable energy applications and architecture.
By Robert Mechielsen
Studio RMA involvement in Large Scale Sustainable Energy and Waste Technology for Eco Tourism started in 2000 when the Studio started working on a large scale Eco Resort in Brazil for the European Tourist Market.
The Project was abandoned after 9/11, yet revived in 2006 by a new European Investment Group.
The Buzz, on who will come up first mass appealing design is rampart in the Industry.
How to design resorts and buildings with integrated, sustainable engineering such as ecologically responsible waste systems,
eco cleaning facilities, grey-water systems and
green energy supply will be the next crucial design challenge the tourism
industry faces.
Resorts and buildings that create their own energy needs will set the mark for a new generation in
larger eco resort designs.
A lot of these building and engineering systems are already operational in Europe where the development of these systems was funded through government subsidies over the last 10 to 15 years.
Studio RMA is expanding its European connections to bridge knowledge and technology transfer between Europe and the USA.
The latest Technology allows to place wind farms off shore
Many of the larger companies are researching how their 'green' look will affect their position in the next market place, there is of course some secrecy involved in rolling out the design ideas.
In my opinion one of the most advanced designs for Large Eco Tourism are presented in the designs for the Warapuru resort in Bahia, Brazil designed by Anouska Hempel.
Here some shots and visit the site above.
If we take a close look at resorts in the Caribbean for example we see that existing resorts rely heavily on the local grid for energy supply and waste. Both are generally in poor condition with high CO2 output.
Together with a Dutch sustainable energy multinational, Studio-RMA is working on proposals to implement wind energy and sustainable waste treatments for the newer, larger resorts.
If we look here at the cost factor on providing sustainable energy through wind in the Caribbean which has ample trade winds, we see that implementing wind energy will actually cut down the KWH electricity price from approx $ .24 to $ .18. This includes all investment costs (return on investment ).
On an Island, be it in the Pacific or Caribbean, the electrical grids are weak since the grid is small (generally one small plant supplies the entire island) , resulting often in outages - Most institutions and private residences have diesel back up generators. Adding a windmill farm to the electrical grid, reduces the existing plant to a back up plant in case there are no trade winds - creating a reliable energy supply overall at lower costs.
In the tourism industry the resorts get down cycled. A resort might have started in the 60s as a plush resort, and over time gets down cycled to low-end tourism.
Often these resorts are located in pristine environments that are hard to come by. If the original structure is built of concrete such resorts are perfect for up-cycling. Once the structural integrity has been verified the structure can be stripped, detoxified and redesigned into a fully sustainable eco-resort.
The light weight SCIP building technology integrates extremely well with existing concrete structures, the non-toxic and vermin proof aspect of the building system aids in maintaining a low pesticide profile to keep the hotel free from insects.
Generally the cooling, sewer and plumbing systems are up for renewal so new highly efficient 'Clean Tech' systems can be installed.
This up-cycling repositions the Resort in the high end eco-tourism market with a higher profit margin while operating the structure at lower costs. The owners can use the up-cycling in its market strategy to tie in with current trends.
The Market Factor
The market demand for sustainable tourism facilities will grow. Movies like 'An Inconvenient Truth' and 'The 11th Hour' fuel this market demand especially among travelers that these resorts cater to.
The time where a hotel asks you to 're-use a towel' to be green is over. The tourism market will have to face increasing scrutiny on its use of energy, where its energy comes from and how it deals with waste and toxins.
In the design of new resorts, perhaps one of the most important aspects of implementing sustainable energy in an eco tourist project is the visibility of the systems into the architecture.
This creates a branding opportunity for the larger resorts in not just labeling themselves green, but actually expressing such in the visual appearance of their design.
Photo by Atkins Design
Sustainable building Technology made visual in the architecture of the building, one can see the wind turbines in the top of the building
Studio RMA's Strategy and Solutions
Studio RMA offers consultations to Developers and Architectural firms on Design and Engineering concepts. The studio is well versed in creating and visualizing innovative design ideas and back up the operational aspects of the designs with its large network of international 'green' Technology consultants and firms.
The Studio can integrate on any level of the design process with an existing design team both in Architectural and Engineering aspects.