Residential

Location: Dubai, EAU

Year: 2025

Status: Competition entry

Size: 300 sqm

House of the future

Living Oasis.
A home of shade, light and life.

In the heart of Dubai’s desert landscape, Living Oasis reimaginesthe traditional Emirati courtyard house as a hidden sanctuary. Closed and protective towards the outside, the home reveals its beauty only once you cross the threshold: an internal green courtyard that evokes the refreshing, life-giving atmosphere of a desert oasis.
The courtyard becomes the soul of the house, a microclimate that regulates temperature, filters light, and offers a serene gathering space for family and guests. Around it, the living spaces unfold with seamless transitions between private and social, shaded and open, cool and warm.
Externally, the architecture presents a sober, compact envelope, using trough, earthy materials that resonate with the desert’s strength.
Internally, soft textures, natural materials, and lush vegetation create an unexpected, intimate world where tradition and innovation coexist.
Living Oasis is not just a house — it’s an experience of refuge, connection, and timeless Emirati identity, reinterpreted for the future with a strong commitment to sustainability, environmental harmony, and responsible resource management, a place where nature and architecture blend seamlessly, offering a resilient home for generations to come.
SUN-SHADOW STRATEGY.
Solar path is carefully analyzed to optimize shading and energy generation. Photovoltaic panels on the roof harness the intense sunlight, providing renewable energy for the household, while a smart energy management system monitors and regulates consumption, ensuring efficiency throughout the day. Lightweight tensile canopies protect the internal courtyard, reducing direct solar gain and allowing diffused light, thus creating a cool, shaded microclimate at the center of the home.
WATER-WIND STRATEGY
This diagram highlights passive cooling solutions, drawing inspiration from the traditional Emirati barjeel — wind towers historically used to capture prevailing breezes and funnel fresh air into living spaces. These towers enhance natural ventilation, reduce indoor temperatures, and minimize reliance on mechanical systems. Additionally, rooftop rainwater collection basins store precious water, which is reused to irrigate the courtyard’s lush vegetation and feed central water features, amplifying evaporative cooling effects.