Prof. Khaled Abou Taam of the Lebanese University (Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture, Branch 1), was awarded third prize with his architectural team consisting of Catherine Zalzali and Ali Al Affy (Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture, Branch 1, 5th year in Architecture) and Ibrahim Abu Taam of Notre Dame University (NDU), in the “House Challenge 2019 – Desert House”.

The competition launched by www.worldarchitecture.org in July 2019, is designed to seek the creation of ideas and concepts related to exploring the possibilities for living in harsh environments, as well as simultaneously raising awareness of the environmental sustainability. Participants were challenged to conceive a new and original concept for temporary house in the desert, such as “portable cabin” or “transportable home”.

The winning project idea of Prof. Abu Taam and his team consisted of a new architectural concept for designing cubic houses that contain multiple smaller movable CUBES (rooms), which give flexibility of living and variability of using spaces. “The Cube” is a new concept that allows inhabitants themselves to build the house without using machines.

It is noteworthy that Prof. Abu Taam ranked second in the “Triumph Architectural Treehouse Awards 2015” for designing the tree house project in the pedestrian bridge planned for construction over the River Thames in the United Kingdom.

Prof. Abu Taam’s project was listed on the honor list for distinguished projects in the “Triumph Pavilion 2016 - Energy Pavilion” held at the Museum Gardens, London.

Award date: 15 December 2019

https://worldarchitecture.org/article-links/ecemm/call-for-registrations-to-house-challenge-2019--desert-house.html