Project description

Al Tarfa has been set as model for sustainable tourism development in the Egyptian oases. By building the lodge the oasis the management has established a base for further archaeological and geographical research. Each environment consists of three main elements: the People and their activities, forming the social and economic structure; the culture represented by architecture and antiquity, and the ecology that embraces all of that.Documenting the cultural and natural heritage of the Egyptian Oases, Al Tarfa has successfully completed the first phase of its “Dakhla oasis Architectural Documentation Project”. Sponsored by Camps & Lodges, Al Tarfa’s owning company, the project aimed to document the unique architectural heritage within the Lodge’s surrounding villages. During the first phase (2008-2009), Al Tarfa commissioned a group of respected Egyptian artists to portray the exteriors of the villages of Al Qasr and Balat. Twenty eight original oil paintings are now displayed at Al Tarfa. The second phase is planned to document the interiors of the mud-brick villages.