This year’s Abwab pavilion is an architectural investigation of locally sourced materials designed by Dubai-based multidisciplinary architectural firm Fahed + Architects, a practice with a strong MENASA presence with partners located in India, the Middle East and West Asia.

Between buildings 4 & 6, Dubai Design District (d3)

The Abwab exhibition (Abwab means ‘doors’ in Arabic) is a highlight of Dubai Design Week as it is the only initiative of its kind to offer a snapshot of regional design talent from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Abwab originally consisted of independent pavilions hosting six MENASA countries, but in 2017 the concept has evolved into a single pavilion in the heart of Dubai Design District (d3), exhibiting as many countries as possible. Over 250 designers were reached through an innovative peer-selection process; ‘designer dominos’ as a pay-it-forward mechanism to strengthen a community, whereby in order to be considered for selection, a designer is required to nominate the next designer to submit.

The final showcase of contemporary design works was chosen by an international editorial board for being strong representations of ideas or production techniques rooted in these regions. The Editorial Board was made up of Lateefa Bint Maktoum, Joy Mardini, Max Fraser and Rawan Kashkoush.

This year’s Abwab pavilion is an architectural investigation of locally sourced materials designed by Dubai-based multidisciplinary architectural firm Fahed + Architects. The ethos of the practice is to capture the spiritual essence of a place through architectural expressions.

For the construction of the Abwab pavilion, Fahed + Architects sourced bedsprings from waste management company bee’ah. Strong, but light in character, this mound of bedsprings will be supported by a series of interconnected posts to form a cloud of mesh. Set against a large mass of buildings within the d3 corridors, the structure’s silhouette will be reminiscent of impetuous ocean waves, coral clusters in a reef and clouds in the sky, referencing the practice’s environmental commitment. The pavilion will distil daylight to create patterns on the exhibited works and on the ground.

Certain items on display are available for purchase.