Newswire

Reimagining connection

Alserkal Arts Foundation has awarded its inaugural research grants to practitioners breaking new ground through innovative approaches to film, contemporary architecture and urbanism, exploring indigenous knowledges and local ecologies in the context of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The three recipients are Léa Morin, Manar Moursi, and Shahana Rajani and Jeanne Penjan Lassus, who were shortlisted from over 200 applications, selected by the Alserkal family and Alserkal team alongside a panel of artists, researchers, and academics from the Alserkal network. The grant is awarded for a two-year period with support of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for collaborative projects. The recipients’ works range from exploring the history of Moroccan cinema, mosque constructions in Cairo, Egypt and infrastructural development and militarisation of the landscape in the delta region of Sindh, Pakistan. This year’s Abwab pavilion for Dubai Design Week will be desiged by Iraqi designer Hoazn Zangana for his proposal ‘Fata Morgana’ that responds to the theme of redefining and reimagining the way we live in an urban environment. The name, which translates to a superior mirage that can be observed in a narrow band just above the horizon, presents a conceptual framework of a modern-day city through an openplan arrangement of seating components that are organised around a central point of origin. The organisation amplifies the need to cross paths, reigniting a demand for social interaction and connection. The various components of the pavilion include pillars that are symbolic of each of the seven Emirates, paying hommage to the UAE. It also researches contextual materials and production, structurally adapting to the requirements of physical distancing, constructed using a

Breaking new ground

rammed earth technique.

The Flying Saucer has landed

Sharjah Art Foundation has reopened the iconic The Flying Saucer; a mid-1970s brutalist building which has been newly renovated by SpaceContinuum Design Studio, restoring the structure back to its original silhouette, while adding new public spaces, a café, library and a sunken courtyard. The readaptation of the building will serve as a place for community gathering, as well as art exhibitions and events. The building reopened to the public with a multimedia installation called Nowhere Less Now3 [flying saucer] by Lindsay Seers and Keith Sargent which responds to the building’s architecture. In the coming months, the Foundation will also offer self-guided audio tours of the site and an expansive timeline display that allows visitors to delve into the building’s history and its distinctive architectural features.

Paradise garden

In an era defined by physical distancing, multidisciplinary Kuwait-based Studio Meshary AlNassar collaborates with global surfaces brand Cosentino to present the ‘Pardis’ installation at Dubai Design Week 2020. AlNassar reimagines an outdoor public space, forming a contemporary interpretation of a Persian parade garden that is constructed entirely out of Cosentino’s ultracompact engineered surface, Dekton. The installation takes the form of an idyllic garden surrounded by the beauty of nature and materials you can touch without fear. Its minimalist design embraces the versatility of Dekton as flooring, freestanding walls and seating whilst evoking a sense of calm with its abstract representations of water and a tastefully landscaped desert garden. By night, the installation comes alive through lighting, injecting a sense of intrigue and excitement.

Downtown Design reimagined

In response to the current climate, Downtown Design’s annual show has been reimagined to bring the regional industry together through a series of fresh and relevant activations – both virtually and onsite at Dubai Design District

A conceptual future Demonstrating the diversity of creative thought from the Middle East, Downtown Design’s exhibition ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ will spotlight regional architects and interior designers as they imagine how we may experience our surroundings in the future. Presented within Dubai Design District, the multi-media exhibition will feature exploratory work from Saudi Arabia-based Sibyl Design Studio, Lebanese architect Rabih Geha and Kuwaiti practice Studio Toggle, amongst others. SSH, Binchy and Binchy Architects, LOCI Architecture + Design, Bishop Design and other UAE-based studios will fly the flag for the UAE's creative talent as we explore the emerging factors that will influence design. Going digital As part of a recently announced hybrid programme, Downtown Design will present its first digital fair from 9 to 14 November during Dubai Design Week, supporting brands and buyers through an online showcase of the latest trends and collections from leading international and regional design brands. Discover a roster of beloved makers including Pedrali, Kettal, Sancal, Ethimo, Arper, Caspiou, Brokis and Preciosa, amongst others. The digital fair will be complimented by select onsite activations featuring country-specific multi-brand presentations within Dubai Design District.

Toa table from Pedrali

Photo by Andrea Garuti Vestige by Note for Sancal

A virtual forum Over the years, Downtown Design has brought some iconic names to the Middle East for its talks programme, The Forum. With technology intermediating the design industry this year, The Forum too will be presented online with a series of talks premiering daily during Dubai Design Week. Featuring leaders of the international and regional design scenes, including celebrated designer Aline Asmar d'Amman, industry opinion leader Max Fraser and multi-hyphenate designer Asif Khan, the panel discussions will explore the emerging values that will guide the industry into the future.