The Blue Project

Project idea

The Blue Project is a pioneering hospitality and environmental landmark and an innovative architectural response to the global demand for clean energy and sustainable tourism. Positioned at the confluence of the Nile and the Mediterranean in Rashid, the project transforms the natural salinity difference between fresh and salt water into a source of renewable electricity using salinity gradient power (SGP). Rather than hiding infrastructure, the hotel makes energy generation part of the user’s spatial experience, where visitors walk alongside flowing water channels.

This project challenges the boundary between utility and architecture by turning the site into a living energy field. It invites travelers not only to stay, but to witness a new model of self-sustaining design that integrates technological innovation, natural resources, and public interaction. The result is a hybrid between hospitality, infrastructure, and environmental education, positioning Rashid as a future-forward destination.

Project description

Located at the powerful intersection of the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea in Rashid, Egypt, this project reimagines hospitality through the lens of renewable energy and environmental integration. The Blue Energy Hotel is not only a place for rest and leisure, but a functional landscape that generates clean electricity using salinity gradient power (SGP) and in-channel water turbines, embedded within a system of flowing water channels that connect two vastly different water bodies.

Beneath each channel lies an underground cylindrical tank housing Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) membranes, where the interaction between fresh and saltwater creates a constant source of energy. Above, energy towers rise to store LiFePO₄ batteries and are induced with natural ventilation systems, supported by passive design strategies. These towers serve as part of the building's infrastructure, blending function with form.

The hotel’s spatial experience is designed to engage visitors with water, movement, and environmental performance. With its modular layout, beach zone, and walkable water-integrated courtyards, the project invites tourists, researchers, and business visitors alike to explore a new kind of energy-aware architecture. This proposal positions Rashid as a future-facing touristic and ecological landmark, where infrastructure, innovation, and hospitality merge into a single architectural vision.

Technical information

The project is located at the meeting point of the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea, with a total built-up area of 15,926.6 m². It is organized around five arc-shaped water channels, each flowing from river to sea, narrowing to create pressure points and housing energy systems beneath. Cylindrical underground tanks—measuring 5.8 meters in diameter and 6.7 meters in depth—are embedded beneath each channel and are divided in half by a sealed RED membrane system. These membranes use the ionic exchange between saltwater and freshwater to generate electricity through Reverse Electrodialysis (RED), while maintaining water separation with controlled inlets and drainage. The water flow is further harnessed using small in-channel turbines placed at entry points to enhance energy generation from the movement itself.

The system includes vertical truss towers above each tank, which store LiFePO₄ battery units within their lower floors and serve as passive cooling towers above. These towers integrate natural ventilation through strategically placed openings at both base and top to manage battery temperature and airflow. Drainage pipes are located at the tank base to ensure continuous water movement and prevent unwanted mixing. Gate valves at the beginning and end of each channel regulate flow speed to optimize both RED and turbine performance. The architectural system combines passive design strategies with renewable infrastructure, making energy visible and functional within the spatial layout of the hotel.