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UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date:___________________May 22, 2006 I, _________________________________________________________,Dominic Iacobucci hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: Master of Architecture in: School of Architecture and Interior Design - Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning It is entitled: Ecotourism Architecture This work and its defense approved by: Chair: _______________________________First Chair: Jeffrey T. Tilman _______________________________Second Chair: Barry Stedman _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Ecotourism Architecture Dominic Iacobucci, B.S. Arch May 22, 2005 Thesis for M. Arch School of Architecture and Interior Design Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning University of Cincinnati Advisory Committee: First Chair: Jeff Tilman Second Chair: Barry Stedman Abstract The world populations are becoming more aware of their impact on the earth. With increasing tourism, ecotourism has become a mainstream option. Yet ecotourism remains ambiguous and highly debated. Tourists are seeking to experience cultures that are “untouched” by the everyday world. This large thirst for “untouched” environments along with the uncertainty and confusion that surrounds ecotourism is causing deception in the tourism industry. With the industry of ecotourism continually growing, there needs to be a true understanding of ecotourism. What is it? What kind of interactive environment truly represents its ideals? If the built environment fails to meet the high standards of ecotourism, then the movement of ecotourism is poised for failure. This paper will confront this relationship, and establish the criteria upon which ecotourism architecture should follow for ecotourism’s success. 1 2 Acknowledgments I would like to thank my chairs, Jeff Tilman and Barry Stedman, for all their support in this long process of discovering ecotourism architecture. I also would like to thank of all my family and friends that have been supportive of this topic, and the time that I have needed to devote to finishing this thesis. I would like to especially thank Susan Iacobucci who took the time to help edit this thesis. Thank you to all those people that helped me with my research, especially Kathleen and Peter Golden of Volcano Rainforest Retreat, Don Stenberg of Kona Village Resort, and Michael D. Tuttle of Hale Ohia Cottages who took the time out of their busy schedules to show me their facilities and let me understand their views of ecotourism. 3 Table of Contents • Abstract 1 • Acknowledgements 3 • List of Diagrams, Figures, Graphs, Images, and Tables 6 • Chapter 1: Introduction 9 • Chapter 2: What is Ecotourism, and its Relation to Architecture? 12 • Ecotourism 14 • Protect Natural Areas 16 • Education 18 • Sustainable Managed 22 • Size of Ecotourism 25 • Types of Tourism and Ecotourism 26 • Nature-Based Tourism 26 • Cultural Tourism 27 • Adventure Tourism 27 • Hybrids (Trekking) 27 • 3S (Sea, Sand, Sun) Tourism 27 • Alternative and Mass Tourism 28 • Sustainable Tourism 28 • Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Tourism 29 • Soft and Hard Ecotourism 29 • Natural and Unnatural Ecotourism 29 • Exploitive, Passive, and Active Ecotourism 30 • Summary 31 • Chapter 3: Precedent Analysis – Ecotourism Current Practices 34 • Precedents 34 • Tiamo Resorts – South Andros Island, Bahamas 34 • Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Volcano, Hawaii 37 • Kona Village Resort - Káupulehu, Hawaii 41 • Chapter 4: Sustainable Building Response Based on Best Practices 46 • Environmental and Social Policy 49 • Energy 53 • Water 57 • Solid and Liquid Waste 60 • Air Quality, Light, and Noise Control 63 • Resource Conservation 66 • Social Commitment 70 • Ecosystem and Conservation Management 73 • Materials and Design 74 • Overall Ecotourism Case Study Performance 77 • The Rule of Ten 81 • Chapter 5: My Take on Ecotourism Architecture 83 • Appendix 1: Case Studies of Ecotourism Facilities 86 4 • 3 Rivers Eco Lodge 87 • Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort 91 • Barcelo Ixtapa 96 • Beaches Negril Resort 100 • Beaches Sandy Bay 105 • Binna Burra Mountain Lodge 112 • Bucuti Beach Resort 117 • Casuarina Beach Resort 123 • Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa 130 • Kandalam Hotel 137 • Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort 141 • Royal Plantation Spa & Golf Resort 146 • Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa 153 • Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort 158 • Sandals Montego Bay 164 • Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club 174 • Sandals Royal Caribbean 180 • Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers 187 • Sundancer Spa & Beach Resort 191 • The Boat Landing Guesthouse 197 • The Summer House 201 • Ventaclub Gran Dominicus 205 • Appendix 2: Applying Criteria to Hawaii 213 • Site Location 213 • Weather 215 • Site Characteristics 217 • Visitors and Tourists 220 • Site Photographs 222 • Program 228 • Bibliography 230 5 List of Diagrams, Figures, Graphs, Images, and Tables Table 2.1 Definitions of Ecotourism (Blamey, 2001, 6; Weaver, 2001c, 6-7) Table 2.2 Ecotourism Principles and Guidelines (Reformatted: Blamey, 2001, 10) Fig. 2.3 Nature-Based Tourism (Weaver, 2001c, 16) Fig. 2.4 Cultural Tourism (Weaver, 2001c, 17) Fig. 2.5 Adventure Tourism (Weaver, 2001c, 18) Fig. 2.6 Alternative and Mass Tourism (Weaver, 2001c, 20) Fig. 2.7 Sustainable Tourism (Weaver, 2001c, 21) Fig. 2.8 Soft and Hard Ecotourism (Orams, 2001, 29) Fig. 2.9 Natural and Unnatural Ecotourism (Orams, 2001, 29) Fig. 2.10 Exploitive, Passive, and Active Ecotourism (Orams, 2001, 30) Image 3.1 Tiamo Resorts – Typical Guest House Entry (Tiamo Resorts) Image 3.2 Tiamo Resorts – Typical Bathroom (Tiamo Resorts) Image 3.3 Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Typical Path between Buildings (Volcano Rainforest Retreat) Image 3.4 Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Bamboo Guest House (Volcano Rainforest Retreat) Image 3.5 Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Gathering Place (Volcano Rainforest Retreat) Image 3.6 Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Guest Cottage (Volcano Rainforest Retreat) Image 3.7 Volcano Rainforest Retreat – Japanese Bath (Volcano Rainforest Retreat) Image 3.8 Kona Village Resort – Site Plan (Kona Village Resort) Image 3.9 Kona Village Resort – Tahitian Hale (Kona Village Resort) Image 3.10 Kona Village Resort – Marquesan Hale (Kona Village Resort) Image 3.11 Kona Village Resort – Samoan Interior (Kona Village Resort) Image 3.12 Kona Village Resort – Fishing Pond (Kona Village Resort) Image 3.13 Kona Village Resort – Beach (Kona Village Resort) Table 4.1 Overall Case Study Report Card of Ecotourism Criteria Graph 4.2 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Environmental and Social Policy Graph 4.3 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Environmental and Social Policy Graph 4.4 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Energy Graph 4.5 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Energy Graph 4.6 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Water Graph 4.7 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Water Graph 4.8 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Solid and Liquid Waste Graph 4.9 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Solid and Liquid Waste Graph 4.10 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Air Quality, Light, and Noise Control Graph 4.11 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Air Quality, Light, and Noise Control Graph 4.12 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Resource Conservation Graph 4.13 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Resource Conservation Graph 4.14 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Social Commitment Graph 4.15 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Social Commitment 6 Graph 4.16 Case Study Efficiency in Criterion Section: Materials and Design Graph 4.17 Overall Case Study Efficiency in Section Area: Materials and Design Graph 4.18 Overall Case Study Efficiency of Criterion Image App1.1 3 Rivers Eco Lodge Image App1.2 3 Rivers Eco Lodge – Cabin Image App1.3 3 Rivers Eco Lodge – Cabin Image App1.4 Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Image App1.5 Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort – Main Entry Image App1.6 Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort – Room Interior Image App1.7 Barcelo Ixtapa Hotel Image App1.8 Barcelo Ixtapa Hotel – Room Interior Image App1.9 Beaches Negril Resort – Pool Image App1.10 Beaches Negril Resort – Lobby Image App1.11 Beaches Negril Resort – Outdoor Dining Image App1.12 Beaches Sandy Bay Image App1.13 Beaches Sandy Bay – Lobby Image App1.14 Beaches Sandy Bay – Lounge Image App1.15 Binna Burra Mountain Lodge Image App1.16 Bucuti Beach Resort Image App1.17 Bucuti Beach Resort – Beach Bar Image App1.18 Bucuti Beach Resort – Exterior Image App1.19 Casuarina Beach Resort Image App1.20 Casuarina Beach Resort – Exterior Image App1.21 Casuarina Beach Resort – Pool Image App1.22 Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa Image App1.23 Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa – Guest Rooms Image App1.24 Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa – Pool Image App1.25 Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa – Single Unit Image App1.26 Kandalama Hotel Image App1.27 Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort Image App1.28 Melia Bali Villas and Spa Resort Image App1.29 Royal Plantation Spa & Golf Resort Image App1.30 Royal Plantation Spa & Golf Resort - Pool Image App1.31 Royal Plantation Spa & Golf Resort – Beach Image App1.32 Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa Image App1.33 Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa Image App1.34 Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort Image App1.35 Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort – Main Entry Image App1.36 Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort – Pool Image App1.37 Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort Image App1.38