At tOD, we are architects with a purpose and strategists with a mission. Going beyond traditional architecture, we employ a holistic and biomimetic design approach with NATURE and PEOPLE at its core. It is architecture that is socially and environmentally engaged.
We implement integrated strategies that improve our environment and serve as catalysts for social change. Our practice strives to create a significant positive impact, ambitiously moving the world from EGO to ECO.
We carefully explore the natural ecosystems of sites in order to devise new, innovative and sustainable living habitats – fueled by the power of biomimicry: emulating nature to devise solutions for human challenges.
we believe that truly sustainable design must not only focus on traditional energy and water conservation, but should be based on a holistic approach that combines the following areas:
health
material
energy
waterOur team works consciously, responsibly and does everything with passion. We don’t follow hierarchy in our organization, and we always collaborate and learn from each other. We strive for innovation and research, and actively look for ways to reduce our footprint on the environment.
Adib Dada is the founder of theOtherDada [tOD] Integrated Consultancy & Architecture, which mission is to activate projects across architecture, design, and art by creating unconventional links at the frontier of science. Going beyond traditional architecture, his work employs a holistic and biomimetic design approach with nature and people at its core.
As a fervent supporter of Beirut’s contemporary art scene, Adib served on the Supporting Committee of the Beirut Art Center, and sits on the Board of Tandem Works and Saja Foundation. He has been recognized in Apollo Magazine's 40 Under 40 as a Patron of the Arts in the Middle East.
Adib earned a BAr in Architecture at the American University of Beirut - Lebanon, a Master’s Degree in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU – USA and completed the Biomimicry graduate certificate from the Biomimicry Institute and Arizona State University.
Based on Biomimicry, theOtherDada’s work promotes a symbiotic relationship between nature and the built environment by exploring new ways of creating generous and regenerative buildings; in essence developing creative solutions that have a positive impact.
Adib was listed as one of GOOD Magazine’s GOOD 100 for his project Beirut RiverLESS, which he initiated to implement positive urban interventions including the planting of urban native forests alongside Beirut River and in the city at large. Adib is a Fellow of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
“We have grown together as a firm around a culture of conversation and an appreciation of dialogue. Everyone should feel comfortable to share their ideas, from owner to intern. Relationships are crucial to everything we do. How we work with each other, with clients, builders and artisans, is what defines us”
As part of Eco-Consulting's new CircularHub, tOD will be delivering a guided visit of the “Urban Afforestation Lebanon’s first Miyawaki Forest”. The workshop will focus on the process of creating and maintaining a dense native forest using the Japanese Miyawaki Method of afforestation.
As part of Eco-Consulting's new CircularHub, tOD will be delivering an "Introduction to Biomimicry" workshop under the "Circular Economy & Eco‐Design" track.
In collaboration with the scouts of Compagnie Franciscaines Badaro, tOD organized a hands-on maintence session with a group of 50 scouts where they learnt and helped maintain a Miyawaki Forest. The maintenance tasks included: compost-tea making, de-weeding, re-stacking support sticks and more.
As part of Eco-Consulting's new CircularHub, tOD will be delivering an "Introduction to Biomimicry" workshop under the "Circular Economy & Eco‐Design" track.
As part of Eco-Consulting's new CircularHub, tOD will be delivering an Urban Afforestation workshop in Beirut's first Miyawaki Forest. The workshop is part of the "Sustainability, Climate Change & Environmental Knowledge" track.
As part of BeirutRiverLESS initiative, tOD partnered with Afforestt and SUGi, to gather 20+ participants and introduce them to the Japanese Miyawaki technique. Through an engaging hands-on workshop, they managed to plant the first native urban forest in Sin el Fil Lebanon.
As part of our collaboration with The Chain Effect, we organized a community focus group session for residents of urban areas surrounding the river.
In collaboration with The Chain Effect, tOD curated a workshop where participants came up with bottom-up and low cost interventions focusing on mobility and public spaces around the river in Bourj Hammoud.
theOtherDada has participated in the DPU summerLab in collaboration with the Development Planning Unit, The Barlett by University College London.
On the occasion of Beirut Design Week 2016, tOD developed an installation on a vacant plot of land near Beirut River, along with 20 volunteers who managed to plant more than 400 species of plants.
In collaboration with Dar Al Uloom University in Riyadh, Adib Dada from tOD gave a workshop on sustainability in interior design.
Talk at Bossanova Hotel preceding the screening of the film Embrace Of The Serpent by Ciro Guerra. Our talk introduces the Native Urban forest we have planted close to the hotel.
We presented “Beirut RiverLESS” in Cleveland, Ohio during PechaKucha Night: Waterways, a groundbreaking event bringing presenters from around the world to share diverse perspectives on how communities can re-think their relationship with the world’s most important resource.
In collaboration with AUB, theOtherDada hosted Shubhendu Sharma, founder of Afforestt, who delivered a presentation about urban afforestation.
Adib Dada and Stephanie Bashir from tOD participated in a panel discussion under the title of "Additive Manufacturing, 3D Modelling and Printing".
During the conference, organized by ESA Business School, we delivered a talk about Beirut RiverLESS as part of a round table discussion focusing on “Increasing Urban Resilience by Improving Urban Planning“.
tOD participated in a panel discussion regarding the WATER element, as part of Sursock Museum’s “Let’s Talk About the Weather”.
tOD took part of the 7th Build It Green Conference organized by EcoConsulting and EcoSolutions, by delivering a biomimicry thinking workshop.
Adib Dada, founder of tOD, talked about his entrepreneurship journey and how he developed a business model by looking at Nature as Mentor, and using Biomimicy in business development as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2015.
tOD took part of the Panel Discussion with TandemWorks for their publication launch entitled Hammoud Badawi, along with Artists Omar Fakhoury, and Marwan Rechmaoui.
Under the theme of “Ecocities in challenging environments”, tOD delivered a presentation focusing on Biomimicry and its application in the built environment.
theOtherDada presented Beirut RiverLess in a fast-paced pitch competition at South by South West (SXSW) Eco’s program entitled Place by Design (PXD) in October.
During the SGBC Conference that was held in Riyadh, tOD presented different residential projects as case studies to show his integrated design process.
Being an Alumnus of AUB, Adib Dada presented his projects during AUB’s Bachelor of Architecture 50th anniversary.
We have partnered with Letitia Gallery to design their new exhibition space in Hamra, which in turn hosted “The Shape of a City” exhibition by artist Nathaniel Rackowe.
theOtherDada took part of the “Forum on Cities & Designers” that was co-created by Public Works Studio and Beirut Design Week, during which we presented a timeline of Beirut River highlighting the important events and updates it has gone through since 50 BC.
tOD took part of BDW 2017’s exhibition where we showed how our sustainable approach is developed for our projects with refugee housing in Ouzai, residential projects in Saudi Arabia, and on larger projects such as Beirut RiverLESS.
We participated in the Turkey Design Week which took place at the Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall, bringing the professions of design, imagination and creativity under one roof.
Adib Dada from tOD joined the inauguration of the Shanghai Project throughout roundtable discussions along Otobong Nkanga and other multidisciplinary teams.
During BDW2014, tOD’s team had the chance to showcase their WORK IN PROGRESS, including different architecture and landscape projects, models, and research during the open studio.
tOD delivered a presentation about Beirut River to a group of graduate Architecture & Urban Design Students from Kent State University at LAU, Beirut.
As part of BDW2018, we organized two tours at our CONVIVIUM Home construction site in Gemmayze, and collaborated with Bokja Design Studio who squatted our LIVING apartment with their unique upcycled furniture.
A tour of the Beirut River area with architect Adib Dada discussed the transformation of the Beirut River from a natural river to its present condition as a toxic site, and its potential rehabilitated future as a public space.
