In 2022, I flew to Mongolia for a site visit; it was a truly extraordinary experience. Exploring the steppe, immersing myself in the local culture, and confronting the boundless landscapes and extreme temperatures immediately revealed the scale of the challenge before us. From the outset, it was clear that realizing a five-star Wellness Resort in such a fascinating yet hostile environment would require a deeply integrated design approach. Close collaboration between the architects and the MEP engineers proved decisive in developing tailor-made solutions for this unique context.
Presenting the result at MIPIM in Cannes, the world’s premier real estate showcase, was the culmination of an intense journey that merged three fundamental elements into a single vision: architecture, hospitality, and landscape.
Project
Spanning 130,000 sqm, the Tavan Jargal Resort is a high-end wellness oasis designed by Studio Apostoli in a protected area near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Located in a pristine landscape within an emerging luxury travel market, the masterplan integrates respectfully with its surroundings, aiming for complete resource self-sufficiency. Driven by a desire to meet global sustainability goals and create a harmony between people and nature, the concept is rooted in ‘Wu Ling’—the five elements of Chinese philosophy. Fire (symbolizing warmth and community), Wood (representing clean air), Water (the source of life), Earth (providing nourishment), and Metal (an emblem of will and determination) define the foundations of the project. This philosophy has shaped a flexible resort capable of operating across all seasons. The number five is central to this project: beyond its connection to Taoist thought, it also honors our clients, the Jargal family. Leveraging our holistic vision of wellbeing and expertise in high-end hospitality, we are working to realize their ambition: to open Mongolia’s first five-star resort dedicated to rural tourism, catering to the more than one million tourists who visit annually to discover the country’s magnificent landscapes.
Tavan Jargal Resort is set on gently rolling terrain, featuring scattered buildings designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape. The complex comprises several structures, including a 20-suite hotel, a lush greenhouse where guests can dine while enjoying panoramic views, and a wellness area complete with an infinity pool, treatment rooms, a fitness center, and leisure spaces for adults and children. The accommodation also includes 27 private villas across four distinct types, as well as 19 ‘Gers’ (traditional nomadic dwellings) reinterpreted with contemporary amenities and nestled within a small forest. A restaurant sits on the banks of the river winding through the property, accompanied by shared outdoor decks for sports or meditation, all surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. Local stone, wood, and large windows give rhythm to the architecture of this sustainable complex. Powered by renewable energy, the resort creates a stunning setting dedicated to the total wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit. Every detail enhances the context, interpreting it with a contemporary sensibility that seeks a perfect balance between the environment and humankind.
MEP Project
Mongolia is a rapidly developing nation. As a major coal producer, the country relies heavily on this resource for thermoelectric power and residential heating to combat the harsh climate. The new resort near Ulaanbaatar was conceived to implement innovative engineering solutions that will kickstart a gradual transition toward renewable energy, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero-emission operations. These choices were further dictated by the necessity for complete autonomy, given the resort’s remote location. Balancing sustainability with reliable service delivery posed a significant challenge, particularly regarding the choice of primary energy carriers. Due to extreme environmental constraints—including winter temperatures dropping to -35°C, deep permafrost, water scarcity, and the limited efficiency of solar and wind power in this context—hydrocarbon combustion remains an unavoidable necessity. However, this has been integrated into a strategy of progressive improvement, utilizing technological systems that are highly innovative for the region, composed as follows:
- Minimization of energy demand through the installation of high-performance thermal insulation for all building envelopes.
- Centralization of utility systems within a dedicated “Main Technical Center.”
- Implementation of Cogeneration (CHP) units to simultaneously generate heat and electricity, utilizing LPG combustion with advanced emissions control.
- Deployment of photovoltaic solar panels to generate renewable electricity, supplying specific, localized utility loads.
- Primary heat generation for space heating and domestic hot water (DHW): LPG-fired condensing boilers maintain an underground water loop at a baseline winter temperature of 15°C. This ambient loop supplies substations across the site, connecting both major facilities (hotel, restaurant, greenhouse) and private residential villas.
- Each substation uses water-to-water heat pumps to power internal systems at variable temperatures: radiant floor panels for comfortable heating in villas and shared hotel spaces; ducted units concealed in false ceilings for air heating and summer cooling.
During the short summer season, cooling is provided by reversing the operation of the main heat pumps. The water loop is maintained at a steady 20–25°C through the combined action of the DHW pumps and a heat rejection system in the Main Technical Center. The water-to-water units selected for the project vary based on both power output and specific use:
- Hotel: Aermec NGW1000XH and WSH1101 heat pumps, each with a thermal capacity exceeding 300 kW, providing heating, cooling, and DHW production.
- Restaurant: Aermec WRK0500-HL and WRL550XH heat pumps, delivering a thermal output exceeding 120 kW for heating, cooling, and DHW production.
- Indipendent Villas: A single Aermec WRL101XH heat pump per villa, designed to meet a thermal load of 25 kW. These units handle heating and DHW production (with storage) and switch to cooling mode during summer.
The system utilizes R410A, R32, and R513A refrigerants. The indoor terminal units, served by the aforementioned equipment, were selected from the Aermec FCZ series to balance efficiency, comfort, and aesthetic appeal, in perfect alignment with the architectural design. This combination of high-efficiency technology and sustainable engineering creates a solid foundation for the resort’s evolution. The facility is designed to gradually phase out fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy sources, ultimately aiming for net-zero emissions and complete environmental stewardship.
Conclusions
The Tavan Jargal Resort stands as a manifesto of the respect contemporary design owes to the landscape. The creation of a project destined to achieve zero impact testifies to our desire to pursue sustainability in a concrete and pragmatic way. We accepted this challenge with determination, translating environmental commitments into tangible design solutions, without ever losing sight of the fundamental balance between human well-being and the protection of the ecosystem.
Gianluca Rossin
A graduate of IUAV University of Venice, he is an Architect and Senior Project Manager specializing in the design of hospitality complexes, spas, and wellness environments. Over the years, he has developed deep expertise in coordinating and managing large-scale developments, ensuring the seamless integration of architecture, interior design, and sustainability. He has led numerous prestigious projects both in Italy and internationally, including Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, and the Tavan Jargal Wellness Resort in Mongolia.
