urban fabric constructs maltese fabric village in somerset house

open square collective’s malta pavilion installation

Malta celebrates the layout of the country’s ancient villages as well as the traditional practices of fabric production and dyeing, at the London Design Biennale 2023. Designed by Open Square Collective – a group of four artists with fashion, academic and architectural backgrounds – the Urban Fabric exhibit responds to the theme of ‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations’, transforming in light throughout the day at Somerset House, and welcoming visitors into an interactive installation.

Explore Urban Fabric at the Malta Pavilion in the London Design Biennale from 1 – 25 June 2023.

Open Square Collective design immersive installation at London Design Biennale

open square collective combine various expertise

Conceived through the fusion of the design team’s expertise, Urban Fabric is a large-scale installation that appreciates Maltese tradition and sustainability. Open Square Collective was inspired by the country’s historical heritage, namely, the layout of ancient villages, and the Phoenician techniques of wool and linen dyeing. Research carried out by the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta aided the concept, where the footsteps of the Phoenicians were retraced and information about fine fabrics and artifacts was discovered. Sustainable materials and methods were key to the concept’s design.

Open Square Collective are a group of four artists with fashion, academic and architectural backgrounds

a modern alternative to ancient techniques

Open Square Collective used natural materials as the main components for Urban Fabric, such as wood, stone and organic fabric. The team of artists decided to rethink the Phoenician technique of dyeing linen and garments with Murex sea-snails, and opted for an eco-friendly fabric that was closer aligned to their values. The materials, configured outdoors, cast an interplay of shadow and light throughout the day in the courtyard of London’s Somerset House. Many of the installation’s components will be repurposed for a new exhibit in Valletta in 2024.

Malta Pavilion celebrates the layout of the country’s ancient villages

open square collective commemorates maltese history and tradition

Urban Fabric strives to encourage discourse about the memory of Maltese tradition and the environment by presenting a playful and thought-provoking exhibit.

‘Using natural materials as the main material components, we strive to instil the idea that humans should use these materials to their best potential within their set timespan, rather than trying to extend their duration through unnatural means. Through Urban Fabric, we aim to evoke a sense of memory and space, allowing for a more integrated thinking approach to material and urban fabric,’ states Open Square Collective.

Urban Fabric is a large-scale installation that appreciates Maltese tradition and sustainability