katayoun lazar + pinkcloud.dk’s ‘dubai smiles’, a recreational pavilion with huge hammocks in dubai

based in dubai, new york, and toronto katayoun lazar and pinkcloud.dk developed ‘dubai smiles’ — a solution to the lack of recreational areas for adults in the bur dubai district of dubai. the installation comprises multiple giant hammock-like swings, and was presented at the seoul biennale of architecture and urbanism back in 2017.

bur dubai is a predominantly lower-income enclave located on the western side of the dubai creek, with a population that is mostly adult and male. currently, public amenities in bur dubai are paltry to nonexistent, with no public parks, recreational, or shaded areas within a one-kilometer radius of the neighborhood.

the simple design of ‘dubai smiles’ utilizes two materials — metal frames and white fabric. hung on the billowing metal canopy, the short-cut pieces of fabric serve as shades, while the long pieces are swings, hammocks, and chairs, which need no instructions to use.

‘dubai smiles’ encourages visitors to play and form their own spaces, temporarily free from the stresses of urban living and the intense desert sun. ‘we believe it can be a new model for social interaction in dubai and serve as an unprecedented neighborhood amenity for everyone in bur-dubai,’ says the pinkcloud.dk team.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.