Architectural design competition organisers Bee Breeders, in partnership with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), have announced the winners in an international contest to design a ‘mega dunes eco-lodge’ for the Rub’ al Khali desert.

The brief was for 25 sustainable eco-lodges to be built in protected areas close to where the Arabian Oryx dwell.

It is the third Bee Breeders competition in partnership with the EAD, following the Flamingo Observation Tower and the Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center.

The jury was looking for creative, sustainable, and constructable proposals designed with sensitivity to this delicate natural environment.

While the plans are only at the concept stage so far, the top three designs have been revealed.

First place went to Heritage Machine from Italian designers Giuseppe Ricupero, Egidio Cutillo, Stefania Schirò, and Enrico Capanni.

The judges said it “stands out with its unique conceptual approach of ephemeral placemaking that dissolves back into nature as ruins over time. The ideas of physical memory, and an original approach to sustainability and building life cycle is remarkable.

“Physically, the gradual transition from the exterior to the interior world through a series of thresholds, and the grand roof canopy of the common hub large enough to form its own microclimate, are low-tech but powerful architectural gestures that respond to local environmental constraints.”

Second place went to Oculus by British/Mexican firm Aidia Studio’s designers Natalia Wrzask and Rolando Rodriguez-Leal.

The judges said: “The range of possibilities offered by the reconfigurable shading structure is well-considered. The circular form offers a 360-degree panoramic mini-universe for users with the ability to reconfigure privacy, views, and shading to changing needs.

“The aggregation of units to form a common hub is consistent with the project’s overall “constellation” concept. The desert cactus-like form feels appropriate to the context without becoming overly mimetic. The glazing extents and the double-curved glazing panel geometry appears excessive, adding solid thermal mass, optimising the amount of glass in the inner shell should be considered, to increase thermal performance and decrease costs.”

In third place is Desert Lens by designers Ahmad Nouraldeen, Luca Fraccalvieri, Jana Semaan, and Lama Barhoumi from Lebanese studio Snono.

Judges said it “achieves a high level of flexibility via a reconfigurable tensile structure superimposed on a fixed bamboo shell. The ability of the tensile structure to provide privacy, shelter from elements, and shaded areas in a simple, low-cost, analog manner is effective.

“The rendering depicting the user interacting with the tensile structure in the windy, sublime context is a poetic depiction of man not alienated from – but part of – the dune ecosystem.”

As all three were chosen due their ability to be realistically built, one of these designs could be coming to the Rub’ al Khali desert. We’ll let you know when there’s more news.

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https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/business/hotel-pipeline/118854-stunning-desert-hotel-project-in-abu-dhabi-revealed

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Designed as six islands, The Heart of Europe is a US$5bn development two miles from the coast of Dubai. Conceived to provide European culture, dining experiences and hospitality to the modern city, one of the islands’ largest destinations is the Côte d’Azur resort.

Being built on a plot of 43,442 square metres, Côte d’Azur will comprise four boutique hotels – Monaco, Nice, Cannes and St. Tropez – each named after the cities dotted along the French Riviera.

Once complete, the four hotels together will provide 796 standard suites, 61 suite rooms, 32 star suites and four super deluxe suites. Each property will boast direct beach access, with games rooms, fitness facilities, spas, beach cabanas and Mediterranean-style restaurants all planned for the resort.

The four hotels will be connected by a 12,000 sq m swimming pool, with its heat generated by solar panels.

“The completion of the elevation works and topping out of the four hotels mark an important milestone in the development of the Heart of Europe Island and our strong commitment to deliver the project by the end of the year, despite the current economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Josef Kleindienst, chairman of Kleindienst Group, said.

Josef Kleindienst

Côte d’Azur will also be strategically located next to the 1km climate-controlled Rainy Street,where it will rain on command, whilst maintaining an ambient temperature of 27C as well as 5kph winds and 60 percent humidity, in order to mirror the summer climate in southern Europe.

The Rainy Street will have a boulevard setting filled with street cafés, restaurants, retail outlets, fashion and souvenir shops.

A Rain Forest will be planted with more than 100 types of exotic plants and palm trees right next to Monaco hotel and the Rainy Street. The forest will also have a sustainable irrigation system with recycled water and rain will fall on command to create a refreshing micro-climate. The Rain Forest will deliver a new sustainable entertainment and educational experience in Dubai.

“Once open, guests will enjoy year-round European festivities, the Rainy Street, the record swimming pool and the rain forest that will bring the European ambience closer to the Heart of Dubai, especially during the summer months. All these sustainable innovations, we believe, will reposition Dubai as the most preferred tourism destination in the world and the Heart of Europe will be at the heart of all these attractions!” Kleindienst said.

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Source: https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/business/hotel-pipeline/118867-cote-dazur-resort-to-open-this-year-on-dubais-the-heart-of-europe

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