SA'AF Pavilion

Sa’af is a research-led project that works to safeguard the craft native to the Eastern Provinces of Saudi Arabia; palm frond weaving. For the pavilion, Azaz Architects worked directly with craftspeople to develop innovative textiles and experiment with their application, each textile being an interpretation of a process and story, interlocking them is the symbolic representation of a people. A giant suspended surface is composed of different woven styles mixing color, scale and texture. The pavilion was designed to maximize interaction with both the inner and outer skins of the textiles. The mesh melts to the ground inviting people to climb up the surface where activity and the movement of people can be seen. Visitors were invited to wander through the cocoon to become very close with the textures to inspect them, depending on where one stands the surfaces are brought to life, and the scale of the weaves evokes a dynamic game of light and shadow. The project explored the potential of a classic craft in transmitting a unique spatial experience.