Dubai Design District, d3, was developed to provide a creative ecosystem that surpasses the expectations of a typical creative neighborhood. It has its own beating heart; its own spirit and its own personal style. This is a place where bohemians can live, work and play. Where aspiring designers can cut their teeth and learn their trade; where local talent can work alongside international design, art and fashion houses. It is, at its heart, a place where creative minds can come together to realize their dreams.
The Arabic word for ‘neighborhood’, Hai reflects the importance of community spirit in the Dubai Design District. Hosted in
a total of 68 white recycled containers, Hai d3 aims to contribute to the creative and cultural development of Dubai by presenting and hosting a program of events and participatory activities for Dubai’s varied creative communities.
.PSLAB collaborated with IBDA and d3 on the design and build of the lighting of this urban, relaxed environment. In an effort
to structure the lighting intervention, .PSLAB’s initial steps were studying the modular containers according to height, composition, understanding the ambient glow diffused from the existing interior lights and designing a tailor made outdoor
lighting solution for a unique creative habitat.
The U shaped rod mounted projectors are fixed on the outer surface of the containers, positioned in the dark areas, between the horizontal edges, shedding the needed light on the different levels. The fixation plates are a bespoke solution, designed to fit the pattern of the container panels. The directional projectors are made from steel with a powder coated finish and supported by stainless steel, naturally finished rod, complimenting the industrial feel of the containers.