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Located along the southern Red Sea Coast of Egypt Wadi El Gemal National Park encompasses some of the most endangered habitats and wildlife, both marine and terrestrial. The Ababda, the dwellers of this region, are an ancient people with a rich and colorful heritage which is also endangered. The park is also known for "the emerald mountain" which was the only source of emeralds within the Roman Empire. The ancient sites which were used for hundreds of years exhibit a wealth of antiquities ranging from roads to watering stations, outposts, residential settlements, temples and others.
The
project which is meant to facilitate control and conservation
of these valuable natural and cultural resources consist
of three strategically located ranger outposts, an information
post and three park entrances. Additional structures
include a bus shelter for the local people and other
facilities. The design utilizes locally available building
materials, whenever sustainable, local labor and applies
local vernacular architectural styles and motifs, including
historical architecture. The ancients have developed
designs and construction techniques which are suitable
for the desert environment. We have reintroduced their
architecture and combined it with some of the local
architecture of the "Ababda". The project did not only
serve the purpose of facilitating conservation of the
park but the structures have became a destination on
their own, serving other purposes including the encouragement
of sound eco-tourism while promoting the welfare of
local people.
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| Reviving ancient techniques using manual labor contributed to lower impact on the landscape. |
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