MADAR

Prof. Dr. Osama Hassan

Project idea

MADAR is a preventive Mental Balance Restoration Center designed to support psychological well-being before mental health conditions become severe. The project is inspired by the continuous relationship between the sun and the moon, whose interaction creates an orbit (Madar), symbolizing that mental balance is not a fixed state but a dynamic process of constant adjustment.

Located in Wadi Rum, Jordan, the project integrates architecture with the desert landscape to create a restorative environment where nature becomes part of the healing experience. Through natural light, biophilic design, sensory spaces, and sustainable strategies, MADAR encourages visitors to reconnect with themselves, reduce stress, and restore emotional balance.

Project description

MADAR consists of a collection of interconnected circular buildings organized around landscaped courtyards and water features that encourage calm movement and reflection. The program includes reception areas, meditation and digital detox spaces, counseling rooms, creative therapy workshops, yoga spaces, accommodation units, a restaurant, and outdoor healing gardens.

The architectural design responds to the unique environment of Wadi Rum by using earth-toned materials, passive environmental strategies, skylights, natural ventilation, and locally inspired forms. Sustainability is integrated through responsible water management, native planting, reduced environmental impact, and energy-efficient design.

Rather than functioning as a clinical treatment facility, MADAR provides a restorative environment that promotes prevention, self-awareness, mindfulness, and long-term psychological well-being through architecture.

Technical information

MADAR is an adaptive reuse and redesign of the Sino-Italian Cultural Exchange City Reception Center, transformed into a Mental Balance Restoration Center located in Wadi Rum, Jordan. The project preserves the original circular architectural language while introducing a new wellness-focused interior program. The design incorporates terracotta finishes, a ventilated double-skin façade, skylights for natural daylight, passive ventilation, greywater reuse, native desert landscaping, and energy-efficient strategies to create a sustainable and restorative environment that responds to the unique climate and landscape of Wadi Rum.

Documentation

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