Adib Dada is an award-winning environmental activist and architect. In 2010, he founded theOtherDada [tOD] Regenerative Consultancy & Architecture practice, with a mission to activate projects across architecture, living systems, and art. Based on Biomimicry thinking, tOD’s work promotes a symbiotic relationship between nature and the built environment by exploring new ways of creating generous and regenerative habitats for humans and other organisms; in essence working with nature to develop resilient and generous cities.

Adib is engaged in rewilding the city and reclaiming public space by planting native Miyawaki forests in urban landfills through his initiative: theOtherForest, a nature-based tool for ecological and social regeneration. Adib and his team have planted over 11 forests across Lebanon, reclaiming more than 3,700 square meters of degraded land by planting them with over 10,500 trees and shrubs of 28 different native species.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, such as the McNulty Foundation Impact Grant and D&AD Future Impact Award. His work has been published in books, most recently in Hannah Lewis’ Mini-Forest Revolution, Naomi Zurcher’s Connecting Trees with People, and his story has been produced into a short documentary by WaterBear: Growing Back Beirut.

Adib earned a BA in Architecture at the American University of Beirut - Lebanon, a Master’s Degree in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU – USA, completed the Biomimicry graduate certificate from the Biomimicry Institute and Arizona State University, and a certificate in Ecosystem Restoration Design from Gaia Institute.