Tzila Camp: Designing an Authentic Desert Experience in Fayoum

In the heart of Egypt’s Fayoum desert  near the world-famous Valley of the Whales lies one of the country’s rare and breathtaking glamping experiences: Tzila Camp.
At Tekton, we were proud to lead both the design and build of this unique structure, creating an experience that honors the land, the climate, and the ancient stories buried beneath the sand.

A Challenge Beyond the Ordinary

Tzila wasn’t a typical project.
It was a test of architectural sensitivity, technical precision, and endurance.
We were tasked with building a structure that was:

• Sustainable and low-impact.

• Lightweight and portable

• Authentic to its desert context

• Able to withstand the harsh conditions of an off-grid, remote location

To add to the complexity, construction took place in the off-season under Fayoum’s intense summer heat, deep in the desert, with limited access to power or infrastructure.

Inspired by Nature’s History

To find the right form, we looked to the land itself.

Fayoum was once covered by sea — and today, the nearby Wadi El-Hitan preserves fossils of ancient whales. We let this story shape our concept.

The result?
A structure that resembles both the curved ribs of fossilized skeletons and the organic flow of sand dunes. A form that feels like it was always meant to be there.

Sustainable Materials, Honest Construction

We chose materials that respected the land and could return to it without harm:

• A structure built entirely from local wood,

• Covered with breathable duck cotton fabric,

• And anchored in natural stone.

Every rib (or "arch") in the shell was made from hundreds of precisely cut wood pieces  digitally designed, then hand-assembled on-site.
In total, the canopy was composed of thousands of wooden components, forming a seamless, airy shelter that feels both light and grounded.

It took our team two full weeks on-site to assemble the structure in the desert, setting it against the mountain backdrop framing views of the dunes and sky.

Where Design Meets Stillness

By day, soft light filters through the arches.
By night, the camp glows around a central fire, inviting guests to pause, reflect, and reconnect — not just with nature, but with something deeper.

Tzila isn’t just a structure.
It’s an atmosphere. A story told in wood and fabric.
A reminder that when design listens to the land, it becomes more than shelter — it becomes memory.

What We Believe at Tekton

We believe architecture should belong to its environment.
That great design is not only beautiful but also authentic.
And that building with intention, story, and care can transform even the most remote landscapes into places of connection.

Tzila Camp is one of our proudest achievements.
A project that captures everything Tekton stands for where craftsmanship, sustainability, and design come together in harmony.