A shared space for humans and pigeons stands out as a key feature of Dubai Design Week

When imagining Dubai, the city's towering skyline and stunning architecture might come to mind. But a collective of architects and designers is now focusing on sustainable innovation, creating installations that may be smaller than the city’s monumental buildings, yet are just as inspiring.

One such creation by Dubai-based Syrian designer Ahmad Alkattan is a cocoon-shaped outdoor social space, ideal for designers to ‘hatch’ new ideas. It not only provides shade and seating for people but also offers a sanctuary for pigeons.

Called 'Designest,' this piece is inspired by the traditional pigeon towers of the Arabian Peninsula. These buildings, often adorned with intricate arches and carvings, were designed to shelter pigeons from harsh weather, gather their droppings for fertilizer, and display the wealth of the tower's owner.

Designest features pigeon nests atop the elongated structure, while three arched entrances below welcome human visitors. The human and pigeon areas are kept separate, and bird droppings from the upper section are used as fertilizer for plants in Dubai's Design District.

Alkattan’s design is a key feature of the annual Dubai Design Week and took first place in the Urban Commissions competition, which challenges designers and architects to create innovative outdoor furniture. Alkattan explained that the concept for Designest stemmed from considering all potential users of outdoor spaces in Dubai, not just humans, but also the abundant pigeon population.

'The competition required a shading device, a gathering spot, or seating area,' he explained. 'I aimed to combine all these elements, but my interest in non-human design led me to ask, 'Why should everything be centered around humans?''

Now in its ninth year, Dubai Design Week (DDW), taking place from November 7-12, is the largest event of its kind in the region, offering a variety of workshops, installations, exhibitions, and talks. This year, over 30 installation designs have been built in the city's Design District as part of DDW.

Ahead of the upcoming COP28 climate conference in Dubai, this year’s Dubai Design Week focuses on sustainable practices and materials. Mette Degn-Christensen, director of DDW’s main design fair, Downtown Design, and former DDW director, highlighted that sustainability has been a key design criterion for the past six years. 'This year, it’s about exploring new sustainable practices, such as not just 3D-printing but also experimenting with the types of materials used in 3D printing,' she explained.

Alkattan’s Designest structure was initially designed for 3D printing with recycled glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), but due to constraints related to time, cost, and weight, the final prototypes for DDW used a mix of eco-friendly methods and materials, including a plant-based plastic alternative combined with wood powder and 3D printing with sand.

'Being environmentally conscious from the start of the design process is no longer just a trend; it’s a necessity,' said Alkattan, a freelance concept designer and architect. 'That’s why I pursued a Master’s in renewable energy engineering. Although it’s not directly related to architecture, I wanted to understand how to incorporate sustainability into my designs right from the beginning, rather than treating it as an afterthought.'

Other installations aligning with the sustainability theme include Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla’s 'Of Palm' pavilion, which is made entirely from the indigenous palm tree, and the 'Pulp Fractions' installation by Dubai-based architecture and interior design firm TEE VEE EFF, created from pressed, dried, and molded waste cardboard and paper pulp.

'We aim to feature practical, sustainable designs that are scalable across the UAE,' said Degn-Christensen, discussing the designs selected for DDW. 'This competition is not just relevant for what’s showcased at Dubai Design Week but also for how these designs can be applied in the future.'

Designest marks Alkattan’s third attempt to win the Urban Commissions category. 'Competitions are the perfect platform to showcase your ideas without being limited by client expectations, budget constraints, or practicality,' Alkattan explained. 'They allow you to push the boundaries of what’s truly achievable.'