Shortlisted for hospitality building of the year at Dezeen Awards 2019, Ayla Golf Academy and Clubhouse by Oppenheim Architecture takes inspiration from ancient Bedouin architecture.

Oppenheim Architecture has used an organic dune-like concrete shell design for this mixed-use resort development in Aqaba, Jordan named Ayla Oasis. The 40,000-square-foot building is part of the first phase of a 17-square-mile leisure development currently under development. The development encompasses residential, hotel and commercial space, all centred around a golf course. The clubhouse and golf academy feature retail, dining, bar and lounge, fitness, studio and spa facilities. Ayla Clubhouse's undulating form is partly modelled on traditional Bedouin stretch tents as well as the surrounding scenery. Oppenheim Architecture used shotcrete – a type of concrete that is sprayed through a hose onto framework, often used to create curved surfaces. An orange-coloured pigment was added to the concrete mix to help the building blend in with the desert landscape.

Architect: Oppenheim Architecture
Project: Ayla Golf Academy and Clubhouse
Read more: Oppenheim Architecture