Supported by A.R.M. Holding, the seventh edition of Urban Commissions was unveiled at Dubai Design Week, showcasing an innovative public installation by Beirut-based architectural firm, Bits to Atoms.
Titled ‘Yowalah’, the winning proposal is an inclusive and inter-generational public space, designed to undo social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A.R.M. Holding’s involvement in the initiative is part of the company’s ongoing mission to give back to the community and is in line with supporting and driving the objectives laid out in the UAE’s 2040 vision.
“Public spaces and installations such as ‘Yowalah’ invite people to come together as a society, whilst enriching the community as a whole. Bits to Atoms has presented an outstanding response to this year’s Urban Commissions brief and we are excited to see it be brought to life," said Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of A.R.M. Holding.
Offering play areas for kids, as well as a space for sports and gardening, Yowalah used 3D-printed beams assembled into frame beams to ‘weave’ the fabric of a healthy society. Regaining public spaces and stitching communities back together again, the recycled materials are fabricated on-demand, without moulds or stocks, reducing further the overall impact on the environment of the initiative.
“The modularity of the design is key in its flexibility to adapt any program or site, but also for easy maintenance and replacement,” explained Bits to atoms CEO and founder, Guillaume Crédoz.
Elements include ladder steps, swings seats and exploration tubes for kids, as well as planting pots and pergolas for gardening projects – all 3D-printed with local recycled materials from the automotive industry and unique in their design.