This Pavilion Showcases Sustainable Design through the Versatility of Local Palm Trees | Of Palm

This Pavilion Showcases Sustainable Design through the Versatility of Local Palm Trees | Of Palm

Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla showcased his innovative Of Palm pavilion at Dubai Design Week, serving as this year’s Abwab pavilion, named after the Arabic word for doors. The focal point of the annual Dubai Design Week festival, Of Palm stood as a testament to sustainable architecture and design, emphasizing the potential for these practices to address climate change. Know more about it on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).


Constructed entirely from local palm trees, Of Palm pavilion featured ceilings crafted from intricately woven leaf mats and furniture made from palm wood.

Constructed entirely from local palm trees, Of Palm pavilion featured ceilings crafted from intricately woven leaf mats and furniture made from palm wood. The sustainable ethos extended to the bark-clad trunks that served as pillars, supporting a ceiling adorned with patterned palm frond mats. While some reinforcement was necessary, the structure predominantly comprised palm wood, showcasing the versatility of this locally abundant material.


Dark wood paneling from the palm tree was utilized to fashion furniture, including stools and display cases, contributing to the circular pavilion’s cohesive aesthetic.

Dark wood paneling from the palm tree was utilized to fashion furniture, including stools and display cases, contributing to the circular pavilion’s cohesive aesthetic. Even the flooring echoed this sustainable approach, being crafted from the same wood, stained in various colour to add vibrancy. Beyond the ecological consciousness, Almulla’s choice of palm trees was grounded in their historical significance in the United Arab Emirates, where they have been integral for shelter, sustenance and energy for centuries. The Of Palm pavilion, though temporary, stands as a testament to the adaptability and potential of palm wood in contemporary design.

Image credit: Dubai Design Week

×

Post Your Comment


"Content that powers your Business. News that keeps you informed."

Surfaces Reporter is one of India's leading media in Print & Digital Telecast for News on Interiors & Architecture Projects, Products, Building Materials, and the Business of Design! Since 2011, it serves as a referral for designers & architects to know about inspiring projects and source new products. If you have a Product or Project worth publishing in Surfaces Reporter, please email us hello@surfacesreporter.com or you can also submit your project online.

Like Surfaces Reporter on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram | Subscribe to our magazine | Sign Up for the FREE Surfaces Reporter Magazine Newsletter

Designer Transforms Construction Debris into Sustainable Public Furniture | X-TRAKOJAN

He collected leftover materials from building sites scattered across Stockholm, including timber beams, fragments of concrete and other salvaged elements, and assembled them into a carefully crafted whole.

Read more

Designer Reimagines Construction Waste into Sculptural Seating | Residue Soft Remains

Mallorca-based designer Sara Regal presented an innovative collection of seating created entirely from construction debris and leftover building materials.

Read more

Meet Team SURFACES REPORTER® at Edge Studio Ahmedabad | Partners TOTO and Fima | 30 August 2025

SURFACES REPORTER® Brings Its Celebrated Architecture & Design Meet to Ahmedabad

Read more

Static Waves parametric installation in wood | Team art [LAB], Delhi

As you walk into the two-level experience centre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, you’re greeted not just by a wall - but by a living surface. A sculpted wave in wood, that rises from the ground plane and crests into the mezzanine, blurring the boundaries between form, function, and feeling.

Read more


This is alt