Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Private Courtyards and Solar Panels in Desert Lodges

Authors:
Omar Bin Eid, Raafat Abu Hamra, Shadi Chaar, Imad Kayyali
Private Courtyards and Solar Panels in Desert Lodges
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Set in the desert, the design incorporates private courtyards and solar panels to create a sustainable retreat offering diverse lodging options for guests.
5 key facts about this project
01
Common Hub serves as a central gathering point, encouraging social interaction among guests.
02
Each lodge features a private courtyard, enhancing guest privacy and connection to nature.
03
Solar panels provide sustainable energy, reducing the ecological footprint of the lodges.
04
The design blends with the desert landscape through carefully chosen exterior finishes.
05
Parking and drop-off areas are thoughtfully designed to maintain site aesthetics and accessibility.

The Mega Dunes Ecolodges in Abu Dhabi is a thoughtful design that addresses the challenges posed by the surrounding desert. It aims to provide a sustainable retreat that fits well into its natural environment. The project emphasizes functionality, community, and a deep respect for the ecology of the area, making it a relevant example of contemporary hospitality design.

Common Hub
At the center of the development is the Common Hub, covering 489.00 square meters. Designed as a gathering space, it serves as a social focal point for both visitors and residents. This hub supports communal activities and enhances interaction among guests. Surrounding the hub are various lodging options that cater to different preferences and needs.

Lodging Options
The project includes 10 VIP Lodges and 15 Standard Lodges, each designed with consideration for comfort and functionality. Each VIP Lodge offers 79.00 square meters of space, providing generous accommodations and amenities. In contrast, the Standard Lodges, measuring 49.00 square meters each, offer a more basic yet comfortable experience. This variety enhances the appeal to a wider range of guests, from those seeking luxury to those looking for simplicity.

Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure
Sustainability is a core aspect of the design. Solar panels are incorporated to meet the project's energy needs, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. Infrastructure support comes from MEP service blocks that ensure efficient operation. A lake is also part of the design, offering recreational opportunities while promoting biodiversity. This combination aims to balance human activity with the natural ecosystem.

Environmental Integration
Attention to the environment is evident in the overall design. The external façade and surface treatments are selected to blend with the desert backdrop. Inside, wooden elements are used to create a warm and welcoming feel. Each lodge features a private courtyard, allowing guests to connect with their surroundings. External lighting is indirect, which helps to minimize light pollution, thereby preserving the natural darkness of the desert night.

The layout facilitates accessibility with parking for 62 vehicles and a designated drop-off area. This consideration ensures ease of access while maintaining the natural beauty of the site. Every detail contributes to the goal of providing a pleasing experience, inviting guests to engage with the unique landscape that surrounds them.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
new
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility OPEN TO ALL
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy