Dubai Design Week to Highlight the Best of Middle Eastern Design

At the heart of Dubai Design Week is Downtown Design (12-15 November), the leading fair for high-quality and original design in the Middle East.

After its successful launch last year, Downtown Editions, the fair’s dedicated section for limited edition and bespoke design will continue to present the next generation of regional talent.

Exhibiting designers will include Kuwaiti Meshary AlNassar, who will show a collection of sculptural marble lights inspired by his family home, UAE- based Tashkeel, who will unveil the 2019 cohort of Tanween designers and Sharjah-based Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council who will present pieces of traditional and modern crafts from across the UAE.

Aljoud Lootah will also present a numbered, limited-edition collection of objects inspired by the Emirati wooden dowry chest, the Mandoos, while the region’s equestrian culture will be represented in a collection by Emirati designer Hajar Abdallah, who makes her designer debut.

Translated as ‘doors’ in Arabic, Abwab is an architectural installation that offers a platform for design talent from across the Middle East. In its fifth edition the designers selected from India, the Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon will be challenged to recreate the local classrooms of their cultures through the “ways of learning” theme.

“Qissa Ghar” meaning ‘Home of Stories’ by Mumbai-based Busride Design Studio, will retell creation myths from cultures across India: seven contemporary artists have been invited to interpret these fantastic stories onto Khadi - hand-spun natural fiber cloth originating from India.

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“WAL(L)TZ” by Lebanese-Polish sisters Tessa Sakhi and Tara Sakhi, of multidisciplinary Beirut, based architecture and design studio T SAKHI Architects, will respond to this year’s theme with an interactive wall portraying the socio-political barriers in society through a psychological and physiological journey for its visitors.

The Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia, supported by Ithra, is represented in a research-led project titled ‘Sa’af” that works to safeguard the craft native to the land; palm frond weaving. Shahad Alazzaz founder of Azaz Architects collaborates with local craftspeople to develop innovative textiles and experiment with their application, each textile being an interpretation of a process and story, interlocked as a symbolic representation of the community.

MAS Architecture Studio will be producing a six-meter tall installation titled “Barjeel”, inspired by the traditional wind towers of the UAE, composed from layers of reclaimed cardboard and strip lighting in an exercise to build from reused materials.

Historically, the wind towers were a common architectural element of small houses and villas in the region, performing as non-electrical air-conditioners. Their function was to catch and direct cooler breeze into the house below it, circulating the hotter air to the top of the structure. Barjeel will harness passive ventilation to create the same effect, resulting in a place of rest for visitors.

The 2019 Audi Innovation Hub will be designed by Emirati designer and architect Abdulla AlMulla, founder of ‘MULA’ design studio. Almulla’s methodology is driven by creative energy, and taking inspiration from technological advances. The pavilion will consist of a sweeping steel structure, combined with gradient mesh which creates shade, inspired by the technology of Audi’s “e-tron”, as well as Almulla’s use of patterns and geometry in setting design guidelines.

With hand-picked products especially for Dubai Design Week, the Art Jameel Shop will be situated in Building 4, next to Global Grad Show, and will be the home for items related to contemporary art, design, architecture, and culture – from the UAE to the world. Products from established and award-winning brands will sit alongside items commissioned especially for Design Week from regional designers and up-and-coming artisans.