fahed + architects' cloud of recycled bedsprings houses abwab pavilion 2017

as a temporary and penetrable membrane, fahed + architects realize the abwab 2017 pavilion for dubai design week 2017 by repurposing coil springs from disposed bed mattresses. the result seemingly floats at the heart of d3 (dubai design district), arguably taking the shape of cotton candy, coral clusters, waves or clouds but enhanced with a rich, rustic appearance. as well as delivering surprising strength, the coil mesh structure offers lightness, ephemeral character and the ability to pass air and light through, with the latter revealing patterns on the exhibited work.

fahed + architects, led by fahed majeed, uses architecture to expressively capture the essence of settings, whilst offering a sensitivity to the beauty of natural materials and the promotion of eco-sustainable design. as such, their up-cycled design in d3 seemingly transforms throughout the day, from an artful overlay for the showcased work during the midday sun to a glimmering jewel at night. sourcing the spring coils from waste management company bee’ah, the temporary installation most importantly provides an expansive space to exhibit the dubai design week’s abwab pavilion 2017.

translating to ‘doors’ in arabic, the abwab pavilion is the show’s key exhibition for highlighting regional design talent from the middle east, north africa and south asia. starting at the inaugural dubai design week 2015, each edition welcomes a diverse and unique array of creative talent, with the 2017 version grouping the exhibitors in a singular space for the first time. its aim is to not only empower design and designers through exposure, but to highlight dubai’s central role in the region’s creative scene.

the designers and their work on show exemplify contemporary design through clear and definitive representations of ideas and production techniques rooted to the region. the creatives are selected in a pairing scheme where each designer is required to nominate the next one to submit. the 2017 edition received 101 submissions from 15 participating countries in total, with 47 designers selected to showcase. these include the UAE-based ranim orouk’s ‘glow’, which comprise of glass-blown chandeliers shaped like jellyfish; egyptian mahmoud el dallash’s ‘cairotales’ comfy and contempoary-styled lounge chair; and studio meftha’s ‘unité’, the moroccan’s cube-shaped lamp that is made from finely detailed metal lace.

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