Desert Lodges by Chad Oppenheim in Wadi Rum

Contemporary architecture in the Middle East has had its ups and downs. Most of the signature works by familiar names have tended to be situated in the region's exploding conurbations, in the form of big towers, multi-starred hotels and exotic resorts, set down as markers for cultural and economic success. But outside the big cities it is a very different story.

Wadi Rum, or the Valley of the Moon, is one of Jordan's most famous destinations, a sand-swept landscape of pristine beauty, inhabited largely by Bedouins and a steady influx of tourists. The five star camp-outs 'under the stars' are a typical offer, mixing luxury travel with tribal customs. Chad Oppenheim's competition-winning plan for a new Desert Lodge scheme takes this ersatz upscale canvas and blends it with minimalism, drama and, perhaps most importantly, sustainability.

The Desert Lodges won't be finished until 2014, but this exclusive first look at the scheme shows Oppenheim's desire to 'uncover opportunities within the magical landscape to merge viscerally and emotionally with place by minimum effort and maximum effect.' The Miami-based architect has notched a series of retreats into a rock-face, paring back structure and enclosure to the bare minimum in order to reinforce the sense of place. Imagine a John Lautner embedded into a mountain, enhanced by pure concrete forms and sheets of glass and water.

By using so much natural thermal mass, the architect hopes to keep artificial heating and cooling to a minimum, integrating elements like water conservation and harvesting into the design. In development by a private client, Desert Lodges is, according to the architect, very much all systems go. If the reality matches the careful precision of these renders, Wadi Rum will soon be known for more than mere landscape.