Dubai 2019 – The fifth edition of Dubai Design Week, the largest creative festival in the Middle East, takes over the city with a varied programme of over 200 events, highlighting the design identity of the UAE and wider region. The heritage of the past and cutting edge visions for the future, the local and the global encounter under the Burj Khalifa. Discover immersive installations inspired by traditional architecture, bespoke collectibles and crafts and visionary projects by next generation of designers from around the world.
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Most of the exhibitions installations, workshops, talks, tours and events of Dubai Design Week 2019 are free-to-attend and mainly take place in d3 – Dubai Design District, the city’s buzzing creative hub, but there are also activities held in Al Jadaf, Knowledge Village, Al Quoz, Jumeirah and Sharjah which hosts the first edition of an architecture triennial and titled Rights of Future Generations.
Downtown Design
Downtown Design is the Middle East’s leading fair for original design. On show, the latest collections from premium design brands from around the world such as Atelier Swarovski, Pedrali and Brokis. The Downtown Edition section is dedicated to limited edition and bespoke design with a focus on the next generation of regional talent. Aljoud Lootah unveils a numbered, limited-edition collection of objects inspired by Emirati wooden dowry chests.
Katta by Yara Habib, Tanween 2019 – Image courtesy of Tashkeel. 
Tramonto, 410 Collection by Meshary AlNassar – Photo by Meshary AlNassar
Meshary AlNassar showcases his 410 collection of sculptural marble lights inspired by his family home while Sharjah-based Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council presents pieces of traditional and modern crafts from across the UAE,. At Downtown Design, creative platform Tashkeel reveals the latest limited edition additions to the Tanween Collection by Abdallah al Mulla, Lana el Samman and Yara Habib, graduates of the 2016 Tanween design programme.
Abwab
Abwab, which translates to ‘door’ in Arabic, is a platform celebrating design from different regions of the MENASA – Middle East, Nort Africa and South Asia – region. The communities chosen of the 5th edition are the Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia, India and Lebanon. Busride Design Studio created a memory bank representing India.
Azaz Architects designed an immersive space inspired by the rich weaving history of Saudi rural villages while exploring the dynamics of our memory. On show also the the Lebanese pavilion by T Sakhi Architects which created WAL(L)TZ, an interactive wall portraying the socio-political barriers in our society through a psychological and physiological journey. Crafted in recycled foam, the structure hints to the resilience of the Lebanese society in the face of adversity.
Design from Afghanistan
Afghanistan hits the news for its dangerous geopolitical situation. The Turquoise Mountain foundation debuts in Dubai showcasing the heart of the Old City of Kabul as a cultural hub, where the past and present history of Afghanistan is shaped. On show homeware furnishings, pottery, and woodwork by artisans as well as Afghan carpets, flooring the entire space to create an informal lounge area. The Turquoise Mountain invests in the regeneration of the old city of Kabul and the revival of Afghanistan’s traditional arts and artisan industries.
UMBRA by Finsa and Tinkah
Dubai-based multidisciplinary design studio Tinkah has create UMBRA, an immersive gateway to Dubai Design District (d3). Commissioned by Spanish wood solutions manufacturer Finsa, the installation invites visitors to explore the interplay of shadow and light cast through a series of colourful architectural grids. UMBRA is inspired by Mashrabiya, an element of traditional Middle Eastern architecture, historically used as a window or spatial partition with its geometric perforations enabling occupants to observe activity without themselves being visible, and simultaneously prevent the sun from overheating homes, limiting the light allowed in while still inviting a breeze.
Global grad show
Held in partnership with Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the Global Grad Show provides first-hand access to the next generation of innovators creating solutions for a better world. On show over 550 graduate projects from over 130 universities worldwide, from internationally prominent institutions and regional universities in developing economies.
BARJEEL by MAS Architecture
Istanbul-based MAS Architecture Studio has created the six metre-tall Barjeel installation inspired by the traditional wind towers of the Gulf which were a common architectural element working as a non-electrical air-conditioners. The studio’s structure is produced from layers of reclaimed cardboard, forming a wind-catcher that funnels cool air to the area below.
Sharjah Architecture Triennial
Until February 8, the inaugural edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, the first major platform for architecture and urbanism in the MENASA region, is inspired by the theme of climate change. Curated by Adrian Lahoudand titled Rights of Future Generations,the Triennial rethinks fundamental questions about architecture and its power to create and sustainable alternative modes of existence and co-existence.
