Gulf Construction Online - Colab Index pop-up aims ‘rethink’ of materials

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Rethink features 150 unique creative materials.

Colab Index pop-up aims ‘rethink’ of materials

01 June 2021

Colab, a purpose-built material library within the Dubai Design District (d3), is presenting an experiential space called ‘Rethink’ featuring 150 unique, quirky and creative materials in the format of a materials library pop-up at the ongoing Index expo.

One of the largest design exhibitions in the Middle East and North Africa region, Index runs from May 31 to June 2 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Conceptualised by Ampersand Company, a boutique architect and interior design consultancy, and built by Carve, bespoke interiors and joinery specialist with over 30 years of experience, Rethink aims to educate and inspire the design and build community by expanding their material palette and highlighting ways in which they could work with new and existing materials.

Wilson ... calling for a rethink on materials.

Architects and interior designers are being invited to explore a range of both commercially available materials and cutting-edge innovative materials and connect with a global pool of suppliers.

The focus is not just on the materials, but also the ways in which designers and contractors can relook at their material specification to be more responsible with material consumption and waste. In addition, the design of the space has been conceptualised so that it can have a second life after Index, said Colab.

The majority of the elements of the stand have been made from sustainable materials including recycled wood panels, repurposed offcuts, and reused flooring; all of which will be reconfigured and reinstalled at Carve’s customer experience center in Jebel Ali once the exhibition is over, it added.

“The idea behind Rethink is that we’d like the architectural and design community to not only rethink the materials that they build with but also rethink their material consumption and how materials are specified,” said Richard Wilson, Creative Director & Founder at Colab. “Given that the global building and construction sector accounts for nearly 40 per cent of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, whilst also having a significant impact on our natural habitats, it is important that we, as an industry, take a closer look at materials,” he added.

Ampersand designed an exhibition system that uses sustainable materials that can be reconfigured and reused. Carve engineered and manufactured the stand using clean-process method, which requires smaller, less polluting transport.