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Architects: LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture)
Design Team: Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck, Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Lukas Utzig, Monika Kalinowska, Elli Galata, Federico Lepre, Hossein Maghami, Orges Guga, Harry Hinton-Hard, Enrique Angulo, and Atef Sarbaz Janfada
General Contractor: Dar Al-Handasah, Riyadh, KSA
Client: NEOM
Photographs Courtesy of the Architects

Situated just 50 km from the Gulf of Aqaba in the highest mountain range in Saudi Arabia, Raffles Hotel and Resort Trojena is to be a year-round travel destination where the drama of the natural world meets architectural innovation of a new kind. In this new tourist region in Saudi Arabia, LAVA envisions Raffles Trojena as a futuristic landmark nestled into the mountain's peak.

In this alpine desert location, spectacular rocky peaks, steep escarpments, dramatic wadi plains, and a vast lake characterise the landscape into which the Raffles Hotel and Resort Trojena seamlessly integrates. Positioned at an altitude of 2300 meters, LAVA's annular design provides panoramic views for the 105 guest rooms. Designed using a multilayered circle-packing framework based on circular algorithms, the resort's three tiers of “floating” rooms are arranged around an immersive central green space. Populated with native vegetation the microclimate courtyard provides a contrast to the rocky landscape whilst reflecting the dynamism of the stark topography. The use of the rich vegetative landscape lends itself in creating a unique experience for all visitors through the ability to experience both the prominent mountainscape from one side of their room, to viewing a choreographed display of Saudi Arabia's vegetation.

Balancing design and conservation, Raffles Hotel and Resort Trojena will be located in the Discover cluster, one of six distinct clusters that make up the mountain destination. The luxury venue is a bold reimagination of mountainside hospitality and offers guests unprecedented access to discover the region by placemaking based on the principles of ecotourism, preserving nature and improving the quality of life of the community. Through a cohesive, organic design language synchronized from ground level to roof, the structure acts as an amplifier of its location; the native vegetation at its heart provides both contrast and connection to the surrounding landscape, creating an enhanced experience of place that feels both grounded and otherworldly.