‘Barjeel’ was exhibited at Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week 2019. ‘Barjeel’ is an architectural installation inspired by the iconic wind towers of the Gulf region, which have been used for centuries as passive cooling devices. Through geometric abstraction and the use of readily available recycled cardboard and aluminum, the installation re-interprets the traditional wind tower while creating a cool place of rest and contemplation for visitors. The interior is conceived as a carved void that transforms from a circle at the base to a square on top as a reference to the simple geometric forms used widely in Islamic Architecture. The resulting space is a three-dimensional volume that allows collective seating at street level with maximum exposure to natural light and prevailing winds at the top. Cooling breezes are funneled down to the seating area below via the windcatcher, and natural light filters through the top and side recesses to create a passively cooled, shaded space with lighting qualities that change throughout the day. At night, the structure is illuminated through an array of LED strips embedded in the layers of cardboard, producing the effect of a solid structure that seemingly emanates light from within. Produced in partnership with Metal Yapı Holding, Kasso Engineering, Tepta Lighting, Advanced Engineered Solutions (AES), ALEC Engineering and Contracting L.L.C, ‘Barjeel’ was on display from November 11-16th, 2019.
