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Water Harvesting Retreat Powered by Solar Energy in the Desert

Authors:
Josh Clarke, Lisa Ulfvengren
Water Harvesting Retreat Powered by Solar Energy in the Desert
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Utilizing solar energy and innovative water harvesting technology, the design offers a sustainable retreat that seamlessly integrates with its desert environment while providing essential hospitality services.
5 key facts about this project
01
Solar panels provide the primary energy source for the entire facility.
02
Water harvesting units along lodge paths educate guests about conservation.
03
Eco-friendly incineration toilets eliminate the need for traditional waste systems.
04
Grey water is recycled for use in reflecting pools and plant irrigation.
05
A dedicated battery room ensures reliable energy storage for operations.

Abu Dhabi | The Dunes is set in a vast desert landscape and aims to provide sustainable hospitality. The design merges various functions while respecting the natural surroundings. The concept focuses on blending built structures with the environment, allowing each lodge to offer privacy and captivating views of the dunes while preserving the character of the desert.

Sustainability Efforts

The design includes strong sustainability efforts, primarily through the use of solar panels that generate renewable energy. This power is stored in a battery room, ensuring a constant energy supply. A backup generator is also part of the plan, adding reliability in case of power interruptions. These choices reflect a goal of minimizing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting eco-friendly practices.

Water Management Solutions

Innovative solutions for water management are prominent in the design. Water harvesting technology captures moisture from the air, providing an additional source of water. Along the paths leading to the lodges, units allow guests to refill their bottles while learning about the importance of conserving water. The estimated weekly water demand is around 30,000 liters, with the system designed to store up to 60,000 liters across four tanks, ensuring ample water supply.

Waste Management Practices

Waste management is carefully integrated into the overall design. Eco-friendly incineration toilets remove the need for traditional black water systems. Grey water from showers and sinks is recycled for use in swimming pools and for irrigating plants, creating a more sustainable water cycle. This practice not only conserves resources but also contributes to the aesthetic quality of the site.

Architectural Features

Inside the lodges, there is an emphasis on comfort and practicality. The designs include both standard and premium options, which feature terraces, lounges, and ensuites that cater to varying guest preferences. These elements encourage a connection with the surrounding landscape while providing necessary amenities. Shading techniques are used to improve energy efficiency, reducing solar heat gain and ensuring a comfortable indoor climate.

A strong relationship between the architecture and the natural environment is evident in the thoughtful layout of outdoor spaces. Guests can enjoy the tranquil desert setting while having access to modern comforts, making the experience rich and enjoyable.

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Enter an open architecture
competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

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
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 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
Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 2 October 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
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 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
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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

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

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