Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi by Paolo Demel is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìkọ́lé, Ilé àti Ètò Competition Category.
IdẹÌkọ́lé· 2026
Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi
by Paolo Demel
Client: Paolo Demel
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ìkọ́lé Category
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The Design
About Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi
Nadir jẹ́ ibùsùn ìsinmi tí a gbé kalẹ̀ nínú Aṣálẹ̀ Atacama, tí a ṣe gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwòkọ́ṣe ilé tí ó dàbí ẹni pé a gbẹ́ jáde láti inú ilẹ̀ náà. Àwọn ìwọ̀nwọ̀n onígunmẹ́rin tí ó rẹlẹ̀ jókòó ní tòsí àpáta, tí wọ́n ń dá àwọn ìloggia tí ó jinlẹ̀, àwọn àgbàlá tí a dáàbò bò lọ́wọ́ ẹ̀fúùfù, àti àwọn ẹnu-ọ̀nà oníbòji sílẹ̀. A lo omi gẹ́gẹ́ bí dígí ìtutù, pẹ̀lú àwọn adágún òde tí ń ṣe àṣàrò ojú ọ̀run kanyon náà àti àwọn adágún tí a rì sínú ilẹ̀ tí ń gba àwọn yàrá tí a gbẹ́. A ṣe àwọn inú ilé pẹ̀lú àwọn ojú òkúta oníhùnhùn àti àwọn ihò oculus tí ń gba ìmọ́lẹ̀ ọjọ́ tí a ṣàkóso wọlé, tí ń dín ìtànṣán àti ooru kù. Àkójọ ìwọ̀nba tí ó ní bíríkì oníhoro iyanrìn, ìtànná àti àwọn ohun ọ̀ṣọ́ tí ó kéré fi ìdúró àti ìwòye gbígbòòrò hàn.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Nadir Ibùsùn Ìsinmi ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- A monolithic resort in Chile’s Atacama Desert, carved from stratified stone where architecture is defined by void rather than object. Thick, high thermal mass walls, shaded courtyards, and top lit oculi provide passive cooling and controlled daylight. Water elements temper the microclimate and enhance reflections, while a restrained stone and wood palette delivers timeless, durable luxury integrated with the canyon.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The resort covers approximately 5,000 square meters and features an outdoor pool, 3 indoor pools, as well as a full wellness area with a Turkish bath, sauna, and relaxation area. The pools range in depth from 1 meter to 3 meters.
- Tags
- Atacama Desert, desert resort, carved architecture, Nadir oasis, Nadir resort, design oasis, Nadir concept
- Production Technology
- Developed through iterative massing and void carving studies plan and section first, then 3D parametric modeling to control oculi, courtyard proportions and shadow lines. Material assembly logic is based on locally sourced stone or stone veneer on RC frame with high thermal mass, ventilated cavities, concealed linear LEDs, and waterproofed pool shells designed for low maintenance desert operation.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part was balancing excavation with comfort and safety in an extreme desert: creating shaded, quiet interior oases without losing daylight, views, or a clear guest journey. Limited water, harsh sun, thermal swings and fragile geology pushed us to use the rock mass as a climate buffer, minimize exposed facades, and choreograph light wells and courtyards.
- Research
- design research and site study. Objectives: create a low glare, sheltered resort embedded in rock, with water as an oasis cue. Methodology: climate solar mapping, spatial sequencing, and iterative massing tests. Data Tools: sun path, wind data, 3D models
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the Atacama’s stratified geology and pre Columbian desert settlements, the project treats architecture as a carved refuge space shaped by subtraction, shade, and silence. Research into thermal mass, controlled zenithal daylight, and evaporative microclimates informed courtyards, oculi, and water basins to create comfort with minimal mechanical demand.
- Project Duration
- Nadir Resort is a hospitality concept developed from august 2025 to February 2026 for a site in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The proposal integrates architecture with existing rock formations by partial excavation, forming protected courtyards and interior pool spaces. The project was prepared as a design competition submission and visualised through iterative spatial and material studies.
- Operation Flow
- Guests arrive from the open desert and slip into a cooler, carved threshold. A gentle descent leads through shaded passages where sound, texture and warm light guide the way. Skylights and cuts in the rock reveal a sequence of indoor outdoor oases: pools, lounges and quiet rooms. Movement shifts naturally from social spaces to private retreat, while the surrounding stone keeps the atmosphere calm and temperate.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #2 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #3 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #4 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #5 : Paolo Demel (designer)
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