A dune-like concrete shell encases the Ayla Clubhouse in Aqaba, which Oppenheim Architecture has designed to blend in with the surrounding desert in Jordan.
The building forms the heart of Ayla Oasis ? a 17-square-mile leisure centre under development in the city, for which Oppenheim Architecture has also designed a golfing academy.
Ayla Clubhouse's undulating form is modelled on traditional Bedouin stretch tents and the surrounding desert dunes and mountains.

"Ayla Clubhouse takes inspiration from the natural dunescapes and mountains of the surrounding desert as well as the architectural heritage of the ancient Bedouin," explained the studio.
"The distinct architectural form Ayla Clubhouse establishes a unique connection with nature by capturing the elemental, vibrant beauty of the rolling desert landscape."
Oppenheim Architecture built the Ayla Clubhouse with 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.

Instead of having "conventional walls and ceilings", the undulating form of the shell defines the spaces within the building.

Inside, Ayla Clubhouse hosts spa facilities and retail and dining spaces. Further north on the site, a separate building will house the Ayla Academy, which has more retail and dining spaces, alongside a golf swing-analysis studio.

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