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U-Shaped Lodges With Skylights Integrating Into Desert Dunes

Author:
Joineer Architects
U-Shaped Lodges With Skylights Integrating Into Desert Dunes

Project in-detail

U-shaped lodges with skylights harmoniously integrate into the desert landscape, enabling users to connect with the natural environment while providing functional observation spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
U-shaped design allows for enhanced airflow and natural ventilation.
02
Structures are oriented to align with prevailing wind patterns to minimize disturbance to wildlife.
03
Integrated skylights maximize natural light, reducing energy consumption.
04
Concrete bases provide stability and support within shifting sands of the desert.
05
Common hub fosters community interaction, promoting social engagement among users.

Hide and Seek is a design set in a unique desert landscape, focusing on the relationship between built structures and the environment. The project includes 17 standard lodges, 8 VIP lodges, and a common hub. Each unit is designed as an observation space, allowing users to interact with the rich ecology and the expansive view of the Milky Way. The overall design integrates well with the rolling sand dunes, enhancing the experience of those who visit.

Contextual Orientation

The placement of the lodges considers the direction of the wind, which affects user comfort and local wildlife. By aligning the structures with prevailing winds, the design minimizes unfamiliar odors that may disturb animals, particularly oryx, which navigate the landscape based on scent. This awareness of natural dynamics reflects a practical approach that enhances both human and ecological experiences.

Architectural Form

The shapes of the lodges are inspired by natural sand formations. Their U-shaped profiles blend into the surroundings, allowing the buildings to reflect the landscape rather than disrupt it. This design creates a visual connection with the dunes, promoting a sense of unity with nature. The curves and contours are not just aesthetic; they echo the environment, creating a familiar and inviting atmosphere for occupants.

Material and Structural Elements

Each lodge incorporates essential features that focus on functionality. Wall partitions organize the interior spaces, while skylights bring in natural light to create bright and open areas. The structures include integrated drainage systems and water tanks, addressing practical needs in a desert environment. The concrete base provides stability for the lodges, accommodating the shifting sands while ensuring durability. This careful choice of features showcases a design rooted in practicality and sensitivity to the setting.

Community Engagement

The common hub serves as a gathering spot for visitors, offering a space for social interaction. This area supports community building within the wider desert landscape. The design of the hub encourages engagement and connection, linking individuals while they enjoy the surrounding environment. Additionally, the use of solar panels indicates a focus on sustainability, harnessing renewable energy to support the community's needs.

The rooftops feature flowing contours that mimic the natural sand dunes, enhancing the visual relationship between the built structures and their surroundings. The design details highlight an understanding of the landscape, inviting users to explore and appreciate the environment fully. This attention to detail ensures that every aspect of the project reflects a deep connection with nature.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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