clover studio mimics bedouin tents, scattering hegra viewpoints across alUla desert

viewpoints for AlUla’s Unique Landscape

Clover Studio has unveiled its latest project, Hegra Viewpoints, located in the archaeological and wildlife-rich area of AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Commissioned by The Royal Commission for AlUla, this series of tent structures integrates architectural, cultural, and ecological sensitivities to create temporary structures that provide unique perspectives within a safari-style wildlife reserve.

Tasked with creating compact structures that leave no lasting impact on the UNESCO World Heritage site, Clover Studio’s design prioritizes minimal intervention. ‘The temporary structures were designed to be lightweight and sensitive to the site and completely removable without any ground disturbance,’ the architects explained. By ensuring full reversibility, the project aligns with AlUla’s long-term vision of preserving its historical and ecological integrity.

visualizations © Clover Studio

clover studio’s Lightweight and Removable Design

Designing its Hegra Viewpoints, Clover Studio reimagines the historic Bedouin tents traditionally used by the Nabatean people of the region. These tents, historically crafted from fabric and palm tree posts, served as both functional and symbolic elements in the desert landscape. The design team’s approach replaces these traditional materials with stretched fabric over monolithic curved walls, creating a ‘novel but sympathetic silhouette’ that exists in dialogue with its vast, desert surroundings. This reinterpretation takes shape with architecture that honors the Nabatean legacy through a modern lens.

Designed as part of a curated customer journey, the viewpoints combine architectural storytelling with guided narratives. Each viewpoint strategically frames significant views of nature and wildlife, offering visitors a chance to engage deeply with the landscape. ‘The three viewpoints frame specific views of nature in key habitat locations; they also act as a storytelling tool for the guides,’ Clover Studio noted. Exhibition-style boards, designed in tandem with the viewpoints, complement the guided tours by providing educational insights and context.

Clover Studio’s multidisciplinary approach integrated architectural design, exhibition graphics, and narrative planning. ‘The customer journey narrative and interventions in the landscape were developed through storyboard sketches and a design process that combined multiple disciplines,’ the architects shared. This cohesive design strategy ensures that the viewpoints serve as functional shelters within the remote landscape, while doubling as immersive educational tools.

Clover Studio designs its Hegra Viewpoints for a safari-style experience in AlUla