Title: Cafe Pavilion competition

Client: Naqsh Studio

Location: Park Hyatt

Sponsored by: FabLab Arabia

Date of Completion: December 16, 2013

The pavilion was designed for a local photography exhibition called the Hekayat Ashara, literally translating to “the story of ten”.  Ten women were selected at random from an old and shabby neighborhood called Al Ruwais. They were given their first digital slrs and a crash course on photography. Their best works were then displayed during the charity event. 

The design was meant to highlight the liveliness of the people of Al Ruwais despite its bad reputation and squalid living conditions. It stood out as something vibrant and fancy in contrast to the ramshackle portrayal of Al Ruwais. The bright colors and the interactive nature of the pavilion design was the winning factor in this competition.
The pavilion started off being focused on a low budget and sustainable materials until it reached the construction stage. It attracted the attention of a creative studio group who then supplied all the materials needed, completely replacing the original ones picked for the project.

The pavilion was a gathering hub for visitors, placed at the end of the exhibition route next to musicians and a large screen that showcased a time lapse video of its construction.

The initial location was the VIP garden of Dar Al Hekma University but was later moved to Park Hyatt on the shores of the Red sea on very short notice. The design had to be modified to fit into the new context and was a success during the event.