this 'folly' desert retreat is designed for the contemporary traveler looking to live off the grid

cohesion studio recognizes the contemporary need for disconnect. their folly — a retreat in the mojave desert of california — offers the opportunity for seclusion while inciting visitors to reconnect with the natural environment. designer malek alqadi at cohesion defines the architectural folly as a ‘whimsical structure built to serve as a conversation piece, lend interest to a view and experience.’ as the studio aims to explore an integration of pragmatic and contextual relevancy, the retreat is both architecturally innovative and environmentally conscious. the image of the buildings respects the endless desert vista while their ‘solar tree’ exploits the desert’s resources making the folly entirely self-sustainable. the inventive decisions made during the design of this refuge emphasize the beauty of the site and provoke an experiential connection to the mojave desert.

all images by sam frost

cohesion studio’s folly is located just outside the entrance of joshua tree national park in southern california. with the ‘solar tree,’ grey water system, and solar powered ventilating skylights, the project takes advantage of its context with modern technology. the retreat does, however, ‘respectfully exploit’ its surroundings with spatial moments as well. the semi-outdoor ‘stargazing portal’ — a bedroom with no ceiling — invites guests to sleep under the dramatically starry night sky of the mojave desert. an exposed shower with endless views emphasizes the isolation of the project. 

designer malek alqadi illustrates: ‘folly is a prototype that is currently expanding into folly farm in the hamptons and folly mojave in southern california. both off-grid destinations will allow for inclusive experiences such as work retreats, social groups, or intimate events. utilizing architecture as a medium, this collection of work will provide moments of disconnect in which guests can experience a creative escape to engage with fellow explorers or simply relax with alone time.‘ visitors can submit photos from their stay to the folly instagram page @folly.folly.