Case Study: TAN OAK HOTEL
Client: Madaar Development
Location: Ain Sokhna, Egypt
Area: 350 000 m²
Scope: Landscape Architecture

Project Overview 

Tan Oak Hotel, the first boutique hotel within the expansive Azha Sokhna masterplan, offers year-round resort-style living along Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Set amidst a 1.6 million m² development—89 % dedicated to lush greenery and 10 km of beachfront—the hotel’s landscape design extends its promise of “bright, lively, and fancy” living into intimate outdoor environments. Schaduf’s design weaves mature shade trees, reflecting pools, and secluded garden enclaves to create an atmosphere of understated luxury and serene refinement.

Challenges 

• Contextual Integration: Craft a tranquil boutique-scale landscape within Azha’s larger, dynamic resort fabric without diluting the hotel’s distinct identity.
• Climate Responsiveness: Deliver year-round comfort in an arid coastal environment, balancing sun, wind, and scarce freshwater resources.
• Intimate Guest Experience: Design outdoor spaces that feel both exclusive and inviting, supporting relaxation and exploration in equal measure.

Solutions 

• Curated Plant Palette: Selected mature, drought-tolerant trees and understory plantings to provide natural shade, enhance biodiversity, and echo the hotel’s refined character.
• Subtle Water Features: Integrated reflecting pools and gentle fountains on closed-loop systems to introduce cooling microclimates and auditory calm without excessive water use.
• Secluded Seating Enclaves: Concealed intimate seating areas within garden niches, framed by sculpted hedges and pergolas draped in indigenous vines, offering private moments of repose.
• Meandering Pathways: Designed gently winding walkways of locally sourced stone that encourage leisurely discovery of the grounds, connecting arrivals, dining terraces, and poolside retreats.

Outcomes 

• Distinctive Boutique Identity: Tan Oak’s landscape stands apart within Azha Sokhna, providing guests a serene counterpoint to the resort’s vibrant communal areas.
• Enhanced Guest Comfort: Strategic shading and water features lower ambient temperatures and foster a sense of seclusion, elevating overall satisfaction.
• Seamless Indoor–Outdoor Living: The landscape design extends architectural spaces fluidly into the outdoors, supporting the hotel’s promise of resort-style living in every season.

Conclusion

Through thoughtful planting, climate-attuned water features, and carefully crafted spaces for privacy and exploration, Schaduf has delivered a landscape that truly embodies Tan Oak Hotel’s boutique ethos. The result is a harmonious, sustainable retreat where guests experience refined luxury against the backdrop of Egypt’s spectacular coastal environment.