生态地平线度假村丨埃及丨开罗大学区域与城市规划学院城市设计系

ECO-HORIZON RESORT

Where Land, Lake, Sea, and Sky Converge

Eco-Touristic Resort on a Naturally Peninsula,  El-Manzala lake, Damietta, North Egypt | 2014 Graduation Project.

Cairo University | Faculty of Regional & Urban Planning | Urban Design Department | Grade: Excellent

In 2014, I designed a visionary eco-tourism resort on a dynamic, naturally formed peninsula in Manzala lake, Northern Egypt. This land, shaped by decades of Mediterranean Sea on the Manzala lake's borders from the seaside sedimentation, uniquely resembles half of natural palm tree, a serendipitous parallel to Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah, but organically crafted by nature. The project reimagines this evolving landscape into a sustainable tourism destination that harmonizes with ecological processes while anticipating future growth through ongoing sediment-driven land expansion.

The 1,236-acre master plan strategically integrates low-impact development, avoiding disruptive landfilling. Instead, it leverages natural sedimentation patterns to guide phased growth. A detailed 260-acre layout anchors the design:

85 acres for a vibrant entertainment and service hub (retail, dining, cultural spaces), crowned by a lighthouse-inspired landmark tower and public plazas; 86 acres + 85 acres for two eco-resort branches featuring overwater bungalows (inspired by the Maldives and Bora Bora) and Mediterranean-facing beachfront hotels; 20 acres for a central transitional zone.

The resort blends global tourism benchmarks with local ecology. Highlights include a marina for yachts, a Regional Biodiversity Museum Lake Manzala’s, Commercial and recreational zones. The design mimics the site’s organic morphology, using subtle engineering to enhance its natural "palm" shape while preserving fragile ecosystems.

As a student project, this concept prioritized bold, sustainable thinking. Today, with 11 years of professional insight, I recognize opportunities to refine technical aspects like sediment management and infrastructure scalability. Yet, its core vision—balancing tourism with environmental stewardship—remains a pioneering achievement I proudly stand by.

Now, I aim to collaborate with developers or governmental bodies to adapt this project into a real-world model for sustainable coastal tourism, aligning with Egypt’s eco-tourism goals and global climate resilience trends.