IN-PERSON MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY. SECTION A

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates, often characterized as a modern haven of architecture defined by glazed façades and iconic skylines such as the Burj Khalifa, represents a convergence of global architectural styles. Before this wave of rapid modernization, the region’s architecture relied on locally sourced, renewable materials, most prominently the date palm. Historically, the date palm was used not only in construction and architecture but also in the making of everyday objects such as woven baskets. In vernacular building practices, the trunk of the palm functioned as structural columns, while its fronds were layered and bound to create translucent shading systems known as d’aan. Woven palm elements, or areesh, formed breathable wall enclosures that balanced privacy, ventilation, and thermal comfort. These techniques demonstrate a deeply responsive architecture embedded within local cultural practices, inherently sustainable and climate responsive. As many oases dry up across the country, these palms die due to a lack of water, and inherited gardens are often left neglected. Consequently, vast quantities of organic waste, particularly from date palm trees, are generated annually and discarded through municipal systems. This paper session will focus on the design development, exhibition, and construction of the project Awda, meaning “return” in Arabic, the winner of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Art Pavilion competition for undergraduate architecture students in the UAE. This student-led initiative explores how discarded palms can be transformed and repurposed, framing architecture as both a material recovery system and a cultural act. Rather than creating a direct imitation of vernacular areesh typology, this research revisits these material traditions through a contemporary lens by proposing the reuse of discarded palm waste as a regenerative architectural resource.