Architecture and design studio Aidia has announced its latest venture, The Oculus, a series of 25 pod-style cabins that will be situated in Abu Dhabi’s Rub’ Al Khali Desert. The Oculus, conceptualized by Natalia Wrzask and Rolando Rodriguez Leal, also won the second prize in the Mega Dunes Eco Lodges International Design Competition in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The inspiration behind the hotel’s design is the beauty of sand dunes in the UAE’s desert. The Oculus will operate with a biometric approach, inspired by how desert organisms are able to survive extreme climates using their anatomy to self-protect.

The desert pod will serve as an oasis for tourists, who can relish experiences such as star-gazing, spotting wildlife, or resting in privacy. The living area features a lounge for relaxation, a study corner and a telescope to allow visitors to enjoy views of the galaxy from their pod.

The Oculus’s cabins use a versatile shading system that contracts and retracts, according to the time of the day. This Adaptive Skin feature camouflages the pod completely when it’s fully deployed, making it unnoticeable to the desert’s wildlife.

The structure of the hotel is built using sustainable materials such as certified wood and organic fabrics of natural color shades to blend in with its surroundings. The Arabesque aura of The Oculus is made more evident through the hotel’s interiors, which feature a fabric installation inspired by nomadic tent structures. All in all, an experiential treat in the making.

Image credit: Worldarchitecture.org