The Enfold pavilion by DEOND at Dubai Design Week

DEOND, the studio co-founded by Ross Lovegrove and Ila Colombo, presented the “Enfold” pavilion in the public spaces of the Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week from November 5th to 10th, 2024.

The installation explored the concept of phy-gital therapy, featuring an AI-infused 'second skin' fabric that responds to the body’s condition, seamlessly merging the physical and digital realms to create a deeply immersive experience.

The installation embodied biomimicry in its design, featuring an exterior that references the rough, spiky seed of nature while housing a soothing and regenerative core within. Its overall circular geometry created a continuous sense of enclosure, symbolizing the holistic embrace that unites body, mind, and technology. The perforated roof, varying in density and size, allowed soft, natural light to filter into the space, shifting in intensity with the path of the sun. The entire structure and finish were crafted from corrugated cardboard, aligning with the exhibition’s commitment to sustainability.

Inside of the pavilion was the so-called phy-gital display, a volumetric 3D podium, composed of a cluster of transparent reflective wires and two digital screens integrated into the pavilion's architectural skin.

“Body as Machine” is an idea developed in the West that attempts to prioritise technological acceleration and considers a body as a vehicle that doesn’t know its limitations. “Body as Garden” enhances self-regulatory capacity. This perspective is nourished in the East, where the body is not viewed as a vehicle with many separate parts, but a whole – a holistic environment.

“What if technological acceleration could give us a chance to become closer to nature - to return to what has been neglected and forgotten? How can we envision embedded devices that prevent physical anxiety, acting as a protective, healing second skin? How should we merge technology and nature to bridge?” — Ila Colombo & Deff Collective