A Harmonious Coexistence: Dubai Design Week's Innovative Space for Humans and Pigeons
A remarkable creation by Ahmad Alkattan for Dubai Design Week, a unique cocoon-style social space that offers shade and seating for humans, while also providing shelter to pigeons
Sponsored by the country it features, this CNN series maintains complete editorial control over the subject matter, reporting, and frequency of articles and videos. When one imagines Dubai, the mind may conjure images of its renowned skyline and stunning architecture. However, a team of architects and designers in the city are now embracing sustainable innovation to craft installations that, while smaller in scale than the towering buildings, are equally impressive.
Dubai-based Syrian Ahmad Alkattan has ingeniously crafted an intimate outdoor social space that embraces a cocoon-like design. This remarkable creation, named "Designest," not only offers shade and seating for humans but also serves as a sanctuary for pigeons. Inspired by the esteemed pigeon towers in the Arabian Peninsula, these towers, known for their magnificent arches and intricate engravings, were originally constructed to shield pigeons from inclement weather while also utilizing their droppings as fertilizer. Additionally, these towers symbolized the prosperity of their owners, accentuating their wealth and status.
Designest incorporates pigeon nests on the upper portion of its oblong structure, while three arched entrances on the lower part warmly welcome human visitors. The distinct areas for humans and pigeons are carefully separated, with bird droppings collected from the upper section to serve as natural fertilizer for plants within Dubai's Design District.
Alkattan's remarkable design, showcased during the annual Dubai Design Week, clinched first place in the esteemed Urban Commissions competition. This competition strives to engage designers and architects in crafting inventive outdoor furniture solutions. Alkattan expressed that the concept for Designest emerged from a comprehensive analysis of all potential users of an outdoor structure in Dubai, which includes not only humans but also the thriving pigeon community.
"The competition required participants to create a shading device, a communal area, or a seating space," he explained. "I attempted to incorporate all of these elements into my design, but I have always been intrigued by non-human design. I often question the necessity of everything being centered around humans."
Dubai Design Week (DDW), now in its ninth year, is the biggest event of its kind in the region. Taking place from November 7-12, it offers a wide range of workshops, installations, exhibitions, and lectures. This year, over 30 installation designs submitted for DDW have been constructed in the city's Design District.
Unveiled at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, the "Arabi-an Tea House" is the second version of Mitsubishi Jisho Design's installation, which is crafted from waste materials.
This year's Dubai Design Week focuses on sustainable practices and materials in preparation for the COP28 climate conference. Mette Degn-Christensen, director of DDW's flagship design fair Downtown Design, emphasizes the incorporation of sustainability into the event's design criteria over the past six years. However, this year, the focus is on exploring new forms of sustainable practices, such as exploring the various materials that can be used for 3D printing, rather than solely focusing on 3D printing itself.
Alkattan initially intended for his Designest structure to be 3D-printed using recycled glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). However, due to time, cost, and weight limitations, the prototypes created for DDW utilized a combination of eco-friendly methods and materials. These included incorporating a plant-based plastic alternative mixed with wood powder, as well as utilizing 3D-printing with sand.
"Ensuring environmental responsibility in design right from the initial stages is no longer considered a niche, but rather a necessity," stated Alkattan, who works as a freelance concept designer and architect. "That is why I pursued a Masters in renewable energy engineering. Although it may not be directly related to architecture, I wanted to gain a better understanding of how to make my designs more sustainable starting from the early design phases, rather than treating it as an afterthought."
Other design installations that align with the sustainability theme include the pavilion "Of Palm" by Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla, which is constructed entirely from the indigenous palm tree. Additionally, "Pulp Fractions," an installation by Dubai-based architecture and interior design firm TEE VEE EFF, is made from recycled cardboard and paper pulp that has been pressed, dried, and molded.
"We seek practical and sustainable designs that can be implemented on a larger scale throughout the UAE region," Degn-Christensen commented on the selected designs for DDW. "Thus, this competition is not only significant for Dubai Design Week, but also provides us with a glimpse into the future."
Alkattan views Designest as their third endeavor to triumph in the Urban Commissions category, recognizing competitions as an ideal realm for idea expression free from client opinions, financial constraints, and practical considerations. Alkattan believes it serves as a catalyst to push the limits of what can truly be achieved.
