Billed as the world’s first 3D-printed resort, Kisawa Sanctuary a luxury eco-resort and spa in Mozambique will be created by a 3D printer using a sand-and-sea-water mortar. The structure is being piped in layers from the bottom up using patented technology.

It’s taken entrepreneur Nina Flohr five years to develop the project and now the resort is scheduled to open in mid 2020. Flohr is the daughter of Thomas Flohr, the Swiss billionaire and founder of private aviation company VistaJet and she’s assembling a team of global experts to execute the long-term vision.

The resort will be located on Benguerra Island, 14km off the East coast of Africa, which is part of the WWF National Marine Park and home to rich subtropical ecosystems.

Set across 300 hectares of private sanctuary beach, forest and sand dunes, Kisawa will feature a standalone spa – called The Natural Wellness Center – which will specialise in traditional Chinese medicine and ayurvedic offerings. Its design will be inspired by traditional Mozambican dwellings and the spa menu will offer a range of treatments including massages and multi-day detox retreats.

“My mission for Kisawa is to create a level of hospitality and design that, to my knowledge, does not exist today, a place that inspires feelings of freedom and luxury born from nature, space and true privacy,” she explains.

“We’ve used design as a tool, not as a style, to ensure Kisawa is integrated, both culturally and environmentally into Mozambique,” says Flohr.

The resort will feature 12 one-, two- and three-bed bungalows set in an acre of land, each one including personal beachfront, a swimming pool, personal chef, massage hut, an electric mini moke (small convertible) and e-bike. Rates start at US$8,124 (€7,301, £6,342) a night. Additional on-property facilities include a gym, yoga and meditation pavilion, along with a tennis court, water sports facility and four dining venues.

Flohr has worked to limit the resort’s impact on the surrounding environment with the help of its non-profit sister project, The Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies. The field marine station and laboratory focuses on the respect and maintenance of local culture and wildlife, which includes 150 species of birds, five species of turtles, humpback whales and whale sharks.

Set against the backdrop of a 150m sand dune, the resort has been conceptualised to complement its surroundings and is described as ‘a happy pairing of innovation and tradition’. It is being constructed in collaboration with artisans from Benguerra Island.

Guests will only be able to reach the resort via air or sea, making the journey from Vilanculos using a private boat or VistaJet.