Over the years, the word sustainability has often felt overused.
Across fashion, architecture, manufacturing and design, the word has been so overworked as an idea, a lifestyle and a methodology, that it has transformed the fundamental need for sustainability into an inaccessible buzzword.
However, it’s refreshing to see that at the eighth edition of Dubai Design Week, the concept of sustainability feels tangible. Projected into physical spaces through a lens of regional and international designers the festival has found a way to showcase how sustainability can be part of our lives in concrete, relevant and aesthetically interesting ways.
This year, the title for Dubai Design Week, one of the Middle East’s largest fairs of its kind, is Design with Impact. Instead of interpreting what sustainability means in this region or internationally and how to make it functionally translate into the every day, the theme gets right to the point — how can design impact our daily lives and forge a path to a better future for all?
“The word sustainability can be very daunting to many,” director of Dubai Design Week Kate Barry tells The National. “Whereas when you look at 'impact', the idea is that these are design elements or expressions of design that have a positive impact on the environment. It doesn't have to be something so big, it can start off as something very small.”
Coinciding with Cop27 currently being held in Egypt, and one of the first public events in Dubai after the UAE lifted nearly all Covid-19 restrictions, Dubai Design District was buzzing with visitors interacting with installations and exploring how sustainable design can work regionally and internationally through various mediums.
An unmissable installation is US architecture firm OBMI’s sprawling pavilion piece in the main courtyard. Named Once Upon a Forest, OBMI has translated a fundamental aspect of the UAE’s natural heritage and ecology, the mangrove forests, into an expansive floating canopy, beautifully designed and handmade from natural materials.
Simultaneously a celebration of the UAE’s mangrove ecosystem and a thoughtful design, the protective cover is made from net mesh and bamboo bracing and offers shade and a communal space to meet. The pavilion also includes an integrated audio-visual immersive experience where visitors are taken on a journey about the importance of the mangrove forests ecosystem.
Another installation that uses aspects of heritage while also repurposing material is Al Gargoor by Bahraini architect Sara Alrayyes. The project explores the process of upcycling old fishing nets, made from a material known as gargoor, into furniture and lanterns. It’s astonishing how a material steeped in the region's fishing and pearling history can be transformed to look modern and timeless.
The furniture pieces were inspired by traditional majlis seats and seating compositions, low to the ground, facing each other, their silhouettes voluminous and inviting. However, the material has been designed to look airy, with its beach white colour and hollow interior, while also remaining surprisingly sturdy and comfortable.
The BMW i Vision Circular, a concept car also on show, is an exploration of the intersection of sustainability and luxury. A completely electric car made from recycled and renewable material, it presents the brand's vision to become “the most sustainable manufacturer for individual premium mobility".
Across the courtyard is the How Much Does Your Debris Weigh? installation by Quartz Architects. The impactful installation, questions the amount of waste from the construction industry produced through urbanisation and population growth. Demolished construction materials are physically suspended over visitors to the space, forcing us to rethink how we repurpose waste from construction sites.
Set outside of d3, in front of the car park is the d3 Design Market by FLTRD. For the first time in Design Week's eight-year history, the market presents a retail experience, showcasing home-grown pieces in fashion, accessories, art, homeware and more.
While much smaller in scale and impact than the installations, the d3 Design Market is just as exciting. It is a celebration of Dubai talent, where many newer, innovative UAE brands are connecting with the public from the region and abroad, showing the depth and variety of designs being produced in the country.
“Dubai is really growing their creative community and it's happening naturally,” Barry says.
“It's happening naturally because the world is really looking at Dubai, the world is coming to Dubai. The population is continuing to grow and evolve and this also helps a lot to bring in fresh air to the creative community.”
Dubai Design Week runs until Sunday at Dubai Design District. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Scroll through images of the Noor Riyadh art festival taking place in Saudi Arabia below
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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More on Quran memorisation:
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
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Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD
Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.
