Foreword

Abu Dhabi, located on the southeastern Arabian Peninsula along the Persian Gulf, has a hot climate and desert landscapes that are home to rich biodiversity. The native fauna includes a number of desert-dwelling species that can be found nowhere else on earth.

One such species is the Arabian Oryx, a medium-sized antelope with long, straight horns, a tufted tail and a distinct shoulder bump - the smallest member of the genus Oryx. The Arabian Oryx was considered extinct in the wild in the 1970s. Breeding programs in zoos and private reserves helped to increase the population of the species, and they were reintroduced into the wild from 1980. As of 2009, there are a number of Arabian Oryx living in Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

Despite a turnaround in the decline of the Arabian Oryx, the species is still listed as vulnerable. The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), an organization committed to maintaining a number of environmentally protected areas in the Emirates, has expressed interest in constructing approximately 25 sustainable “eco-lodges”, to garner stronger public interest in these amazing creatures by allowing visitors to view the animals up close.

This is the third Bee Breeders competition run in partnership with the EAD, following the Flamingo Observation Tower competition and the Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center challenge. The EAD will consider winning proposals for construction.

The jury sought creative, sustainable, and constructable proposals designed with sensitivity to this delicate natural environment. It is important that the visitor lodges be constructed with minimum impact to the protected site, while also providing an exciting and comfortable experience for visitors.

Bee Breeders would like to thank each of the participants for submitting their proposals.

COMPETITION ORGANISERS
Mega Dunes Eco 
Lodges - Abu Dhabi
Official partner
Mega Dunes Eco 
Lodges - Abu Dhabi

1st Prize Winner

Project name

Heritage Machine

Because they allow us put theoretical visions into practice and push the boundaries of architecture. Moreover, a competition is always a way to learn more and more about yourself and your way to design.

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Authors Giuseppe Ricupero, Egidio Cutillo, Stefania Schirò, Enrico Capanni
Country Italy

2nd Prize Winner

Project name

The Rub' al Khali OCULUS

We treat competitions as a means of testing lines of research currently being developed within the studio. We target specific subjects that help us expand our portfolios and where we can implement our research in complex geometries and sustainable design. The subject of the Mega Dunes Ecolodges was perfect for combining these two.

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Country Mexico

3rd Prize Winner

Project name

Desert Lens

Competitions are an integral part of the studio’s focus on research and development (R&D); they provide an opportunity to test, combine and iterate contemporary ideas and technologies that become part of our growing tool kit.

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BB STUDENT AWARD +
BB GREEN AWARD

Project name

Local.Smart.Simple. - Abu Dhabi Megadunes Ecolodges

Competitions offer a fantastic way to hone your skills and to test them in a competitive environment. From CAD- and rendering- to design skills, everything can be practiced. The same counts for group working; competing as a team is a great way to practice working together with other people and learn something about yourself.

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Authors Thomas Berger, Lukas Vermeulen
Country Germany
+124 points Buildner University Rankings

Client Favorite

Project name

DESERT CROWN

It’s freeing! You don’t get that limiting diction of “it has to be done this one way”. It’s out-of-the-box thinking and in line with the AL-L vision of exploration, innovation, and discovery, resulting in pleasant surprises that solve complex human and design challenges. While learning, I enjoy dreaming and envisioning beautiful things, and gaining positive exposure for thought-provoking and creative work. Regardless of the results, I always look forward to the next beautiful dream that we can actually build and inhabit.

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Author Lily-Love Toppar
Country United States

Honorable Mentions

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Project name

Lodges by the Dunes

Authors Thomas Harrington, Irwin Ho
Country Australia
Project name

Dessert Flower Eco-Lodges

Country Mexico
Project name

Sand|Form Array

Authors Jose Lopez, Alejandro de Jesus Mendoza Repetto
Country United States
Project name

Nomadic Lodge

Authors Brandon Haarer, Fiorela Lesaj, Adam Dean, Solomon Reynolds
Country United States
+72 points Buildner University Rankings
Project name

The Memory of the wind

Authors Jingyeong Park, Yejin Kim
Country South Korea
+72 points Buildner University Rankings
Project name

SAND DROPS

Authors Natalia Lajusticia , Beatriz Matínez, Laura Aguilar, Sergio Perdiguer
Country Spain
+72 points Buildner University Rankings

Shortlisted projects

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The Memory of the wind

Jingyeong Park

Yejin Kim

Kaywon University of Art and Design

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
South Korea

Flower of the desert

Erpinio Labrozzi

Lucia Croci Candiani

Martina Ciceri

Italy

DESERT CROWN

Lily-Love Toppar

United States

ECO - RAW

Abdullah Ibrahim

five-nine design & innovation

United Arab Emirates

6 SAND POCHE

Lord Ceniza

United States

Dunes On Dunes

Jiries Alali

Jomana Baddad

Jordan

Traces

Tera Ponce

Weng ian Ng

Valeska karissa Tirtaguna

United States

Blue Pansy Butterfly Lodge

Paul Schlachter

Matej Dlabal

Christelle Coetzee

Apollo Design Studio

United States

Constellation

Balthazar Pothier

France

Local.Smart.Simple. - Abu Dhabi Megadunes Ecolodges

Thomas Berger

Lukas Vermeulen

Germany

The Rub' al Khali OCULUS

Natalia Wrzask

Rolando Rodriguez - Leal

AIDIA STUDIO

Mexico

Oryx Caravanserai

Farbod Yamani

Saman Macvand

deeb STUDIO

Germany

woven habitats

Sandro Siefert

Patrick Heine

Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Germany

ECO LODGES - THE DUNES

Fanny Ciufo

Sami Yakhlef

Italy

Heritage Machine

Giuseppe Ricupero

Egidio Cutillo

Stefania Schirò

Enrico Capanni

Italy

desert waves

Isabelle Grahlke

Jil Schneider

Seher Ulusoy

Germany

SAND DROPS

Natalia Lajusticia

Beatriz Matínez

Laura Aguilar

Sergio Perdiguer

Spain

EQUILIBRIUM

Kiril Georgiev

DETELINA BAKALOVA

SOBA STUDIO

Bulgaria

Desert Lens

Ahmad Nouraldeen

Luca Fraccalvieri

Jana Semaan

Lama Barhoumi

Snono Studio

Lebanon

Lodges by the Dunes

Thomas Harrington

Irwin Ho

Australia

Mega Dunes Ecolodges Abu Dhabi

Marta Mojsik

Klaudia Niedziałek

Beata Murdzia

Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Poland

O LODGE

Su yeon Yu

Subin Yang

Sang seok Lee

Yeonginn Moon

South Korea

Adaptable Oases

Sarah Hejazin

Bisher Tabbaa

Jordan

HOT OFF THE [3D] PRESS

Jakub Kulisa

Piotr Pańczyk

Magda Palczowska

Poland

The Zenith and Nadir

Melissa Di giovanni

Marco d’Oltremare

Gabriele d’Oltremare

Paola Ardizzola

Italy

Dessert Flower Eco-Lodges

Uri Lewis

Yasha Lewis

Mexico

Oryx Eco- Lodge

David (dragi) Stefanovic

Townsville

Australia

The Wing

Santiago Gilardi

Leon Zorraquin

Argentina

Nomadic Lodge

Brandon Haarer

Fiorela Lesaj

Adam Dean

Solomon Reynolds

Lawrence Technological University

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
United States

Tent-d(h)ome

Federico Giacomarra

Alessandro Angelelli

Lubomir Iliev

Germany

THE DUNES

Josh Clarke

Lisa Ulfvengren

Australia

MicroDunes

Fatemeh Bahari

Tara Fartash-naini

Sweden

Desert Oddity

Petr Preininger

Kristýna Smržová

Michael Gabriel

Czech Republic

Sparkling Dunes

Ayman Emaira

Alia Amer

Basel Aboubakr

Rana Khaled

Character Design Architects

Egypt

Sand|Form Array

Jose Lopez

Alejandro de Jesus Mendoza Repetto

United States

NOMADIC DUNE

Jean Awkar

Lebanon

EMPTY QUARTER

Patricia Fondello

Camila Carvajal

Isidro Roch

Argentina

Mega Dunes Eco Lodges

Notash Dadjoo

Navid Ahmadi

Anahita Barari

Samira Karimi

Iran

TAKE ME BACK TO THE MOON

Rebal Knayzeh

United States

Black fabric

Dániel Kulinyi

Andor Jasper

Hungary

Mega dunes eco lodge

Mette Claerman

KASK School of Arts HoGent

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Belgium