Buildner is excited to announce the results of the Morocco Oasis Retreat Competition!
This international competition invited architects, designers, and urbanists to envision a self-sustaining, remote oasis in the Moroccan desert. Participants were challenged to create an architectural intervention that harmonizes with the harsh yet breathtaking landscape, offering shelter, water conservation strategies, and energy-efficient design. The goal was to explore how architecture can foster resilience in extreme climates while embracing traditional building techniques and contemporary sustainability principles. Entrants had the freedom to determine the scale and function of their oasis, whether as a research outpost, a place of refuge for travelers, or a small community hub.
Key design considerations included passive cooling, resource management, and integration with the surrounding topography. The competition aimed to highlight how architecture can create meaningful and functional spaces in the world’s most remote and fragile environments. Buildner collaborated with an esteemed international jury to evaluate the submissions:
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- Sam Brown – Co-founder of O’DonnellBrown, a Glasgow-based studio with a strong social mission, overseeing projects ranging from housing and master planning to education
- Yang Fei – Founder and Director of Field Object Lab, an architecture and landscape consultancy in Boston and New York, specializing in adaptive reuse and contextual design
- Roxanne Kaye – Principal at SAOTA, leading high-end residential and commercial projects with a focus on sustainability and contemporary design
- Francesca Perani – Founder of Francesca Perani Enterprise in Italy, an award-winning architect and designer known for her experimental approach and advocacy for gender equality in architecture
- Lera Samovich – Architect at Fala Atelier in Portugal, with a background in architecture from Moscow Institute of Architecture and Moscow Architecture School
- Tom Schroeder – Senior Architect at Patkau Architects in Canada, working on some of the country’s most distinguished academic, cultural, and residential projects
- Liwei Shen – Landscape Designer at Sasaki, specializing in climate resilience, campus planning, and hydrological analysis, with a strong focus on environmental justice
- Lei Zheng – Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, lecturer at the Architectural Association, and researcher in computational design and digital fabrication
The 1st Prize was awarded to Ondřej Chudy and Petr Kousal (TMD, United Kingdom) for their project Zellige Horizon. Their design skillfully integrates sustainable building practices, local materials, and Moroccan construction techniques to create a harmonious balance between luxury, community engagement, and environmental resilience.
The 2nd Prize went to Yi Yang Chai (Malaysia) for Enclave of Engrave, a serene sanctuary designed with cascading spatial arrangements, passive cooling techniques, and self-sufficient energy systems.
The 3rd Prize was awarded to Maryam Salamiaraghi (Olay Studio, Turkey) for a project that reinterprets traditional riads and courtyard structures into a modern, sustainable retreat centered around a structured water management system. These groundbreaking designs set new benchmarks for sustainable desert architecture, proving that innovation and cultural heritage can coexist to create resilient, future-ready communities. Buildner looks forward to seeing how these visionary concepts inspire future developments in sustainable architecture worldwide.
The jury carefully assessed each submission based on innovation, functionality, and environmental sensitivity. Buildner and its jury extend their gratitude to all participants for their visionary contributions and congratulate the winners on their exceptional designs. We look forward to seeing how architecture can continue to shape sustainable and resilient solutions in extreme environments.
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1st Place
Zellige Horizon
Ondřej Chudy, Petr Kousal
United Kingdom
“Competitions are where architecture is at its most ambitious. They are laboratories for ideas—spaces where constraints become catalysts for innovation, and where bold, unfiltered visions can be explored. Unlike conventional projects, which evolve within practical and commercial frameworks, competitions offer freedom to push boundaries, challenge norms, and rethink how architecture interacts with people, place, and culture. For us, competitions are not just about winning—they are about provoking dialogue and shaping the architectural discourse. They provide a rare opportunity to engage in speculative design, testing radical concepts that may one day influence mainstream practice. Competitions allow us to engage with global challenges—whether it be rethinking urban living, designing for resilience, or redefining sustainability through material and spatial innovation. At TMD, we view competitions as a platform for collaboration and storytelling. Whether developing our own proposals or supporting fellow architects through compelling visual narratives, we participate because we believe in the power of architecture to inspire, challenge, and transform. The best ideas don’t just respond to a brief—they create entirely new possibilities.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Zellige Horizon is a project integrating architecture, sustainability, and cultural heritage within a natural landscape. The design follows a circular spatial hierarchy, balancing private and communal spaces while ensuring functional efficiency. The layout emphasizes pedestrian permeability and a dedicated service circulation route. Sustainable strategies include water conservation, passive cooling, and locally sourced materials to minimize environmental impact.
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2nd Place
Enclave of Engrave
Yi Yang Chai
Malaysia
“Occasionally, I participate in open architecture or urban design competitions to stimulate my minds, evoke new insights, and foster meaningful discussions. The nature of these competitions offers anonymity and serves as a blank canvas, allowing us to distance ourselves from preconceived ideas.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Enclave of Engrave is designed as a tranquil sanctuary that integrates architecture with the natural landscape. The master plan follows a cascading spatial arrangement inspired by traditional Moroccan riads, creating a hierarchy of private and communal spaces. The architecture blends local materials, passive cooling techniques, and sustainable water systems, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
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3rd Place
Life line
Maryam Salamiaraghi
Turkey
“Since the trend of sustainable architecture in Iran is very weak and even insignificant, she is forced to work in other countries due to her strong interest in this style. She believes that, in order to gain recognition, work on a global level, and improve her knowledge and benchmarks, she should participate in architectural competitions. Her goal is to establish herself as an international architect and office.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
This retreat is designed as a self-sustaining development integrating traditional Moroccan architecture with modern environmental strategies. The design follows a structured hierarchy of spaces, centered around a main water channel that divides the site and supports irrigation, agriculture, and ecological preservation.
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HONORABLE MENTION
The loom
Karolina Antonina Sepot, Jakub Bródka, Michał Daniel Godziek
Poland
“We participate in architecture competitions because they challenge our creativity, enhance our design skills, and allow us to explore new ideas without limitations. They provide an opportunity to experiment, solve unique problems, and develop innovative concepts. Competitions also help us grow as designers, expand our portfolios, and connect with like-minded architects. Moreover, they keep our passion for architecture alive by allowing us to design with freedom and ambition.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
QANTERRA
Gaser Awad Said Mohamed, Muna Mohammed Abbas
United Arab Emirates
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HONORABLE MENTION
ZAWIYA
Zena Shurrab, Fouton Zeyad Murad Ali Khalifa Langhi, Abdulaziz Idris Ibrahim Mohammed
Libya
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HONORABLE MENTION
RECTANGULAR LEGACY
Paul Bo Peng
Australia
“As an international design firm, IAPA consistently positions its projects on a global scale. The purpose of participating in this architectural design competition is to explore the possibilities of future residential architecture by reflecting on different geographical environments, social relationships, and site conditions. At the same time, by engaging in various types of projects, we aim to convey architects’ attitudes toward the environment and their exploration of human living spaces, while also elevating our own architectural values and ideological perspectives.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
The Revived Aguedal
Anas Koubaiti, Theo Marie Alban Pagnon, Louis Samy Aimé Bouvrande
Morocco
“Architectural competitions serve as boundless playgrounds to explore unique contexts, narratives, and locations. They grant us the freedom to transform constraints into opportunities, allowing us to test bold ideas and bring them to life for the world to see. These competitions act as mirrors, reflecting alternative realities far from our daily routines and inviting us to experiment without limits. In this way, they stimulate our creativity, pushing us to step off the beaten path and propose pure, uncompromising visions. Competitions are also platforms for telling captivating stories. The art of storytelling is essential in our practice, as it enables us to create compelling logic from an expressed need and a given location. Finally, these competitions are powerful means of communication and visibility for a young agency like ours. They provide a unique stage to express our ideas, ethics, and vision, allowing us to push the boundaries of traditional architecture and inspire change.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Domestic Oasis
Romain Dincau, Andres Triana Del Rio, Han Kuo
Mexico
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SHORTLISTED PROJECTS
