The Arish Pocket

Study models

Prototype

The humble palm tree: one of the best known and most widely planted tree families in the world, they have been used by humans since the dawn of civilisation, more than 5,000 years ago.

Ubiquitous to the United Arab Emirates, they hold a significant value among Emiratis, connected by culture and tradition. They have been a major material source, from building houses to making small items of furniture, and in our recent winning entry for the Surge competition Design for a Better Future we have reimagined their use as The Arish Pocket.

Surge provides safe water and hygiene solutions in a world where 2,300 people die every day because of inadequate drinking water and sanitation.

The Arish Pocket creates a sustainable design made from nature by recycling date palm trees. Light and durable, merging tradition and function with a modern twist, it is made by weaving palm leaves together and using palm fibres to stitch them to the rachis for strength and stability. Not only is it totally biodegradable but it also reduces biomass waste. Handmade and costless, it promotes and celebrates the local weaving tradition that has been perpetuated by the local females for thousands of years. As well as improving quality of life through this new invention, we hope that our design will help to reduce poverty by passing this weaving technique on to future generations.

The concept is quick to implement and easy to deploy. It is a long lasting material that maintains good condition in a harsh environment and is easy to repair. The design creates a portable and convenient multifunctional product that can be used in the desert, on the beach, indoors or outdoors. It is designed to be reconfigured to serve as a bed, mat, table, single or double chair. It can be carried comfortably and, by simply folding and rotating, easily adapts to the user’s needs. It will make small spaces truly practical and useful. The Arish Pocket’s shape is inspired by the traditional Arish patterns and by the vernacular houses made from palm trees in the UAE. We have given it identity by covering it with a Sadu; an optional element which can be excluded or replaced with another material such as leather, cotton or silk. It can be easily repurposed by cutting the stitches and reforming the structure into a new design or object directly derived from the Arish pattern.

The UAE has about 40 million date palms, each generating about 15 kilograms of waste biomass annually. Our design can reduce waste from palms in most of the continents of the world, particularly in developing countries, and can help those in need while collectively advocating for a future where the world lives in greater harmony with nature.

The Arish Pocket collected three awards from the Surge competition. We plan to take the concept a step further and set up a small business to make and sell the Arish Pocket, donating any profits to charity.