During Dubai Design Week 2025 (4–9 November), multidisciplinary studio DEOND, founded by Ross Lovegrove and Ila Colombo, presented Exsalted, a pavilion that explores the relationship between geometry, light, and material innovation. The project uses recycled polymer produced through robotic 3D printing, showing how digital fabrication can support sustainable and reusable architecture. The installation is created in partnership with MANE, a global company known for fragrance and sensory design.
The pavilion features a continuous, folded surface inspired by origami. Its geometry comes from triangulated modules developed with parametric design and produced through robotic printing. As a result, the structure resembles a cluster of mineral formations. Its reflective and translucent surfaces interact with daylight, changing appearance throughout the day.
More than 98 per cent of the pavilion’s elements are made from recycled polymer using 3D printing. This material allows light to pass through the folded layers, revealing how the structure is built. Because the system can be disassembled and reused, it reduces material waste and transport emissions. This approach demonstrates how digital manufacturing and recycled materials can create lightweight structures with minimal environmental impact.
Together with MANE Dubai, DEOND introduces a multi-sensory element to the project by combining structure, light, and scent. Subtle fragrances inspired by sea salt and mineral landscapes accompany the installation, adding another layer to the spatial experience. This collaboration connects architecture and sensory design, offering visitors a different way to perceive space.
Exsalted will be on display in Building 4 of Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week 2025. The pavilion reflects DEOND’s ongoing research into lightweight construction, digital fabrication, and sustainable material applications in architecture and design.
Source: DEOND / MINT LIST
Photos: Deed Studio