London-based architecture studio Dave Edwards Design has proposed a visitor center in a desert of Abu Dhabi that features a feather-like roof which has a detailed and curvaceous pink-colored texture. 

Called Feathered Fabric, the project emerged as a result of a competition. The project contains as a series of terraces and platforms for viewing and seating, display and learning allowing for people to view the landscape at multiple levels above the horizon.  

Upper Terrace Gallery

Conceived as a harmonious structure, these internal spaces are contained by the "dune-scape" walls framing and wrapping around the building nesting into the ground and reflecting the natural exposed rocky outcrops of the local context in textural and visual terms.  

"The overall plan consists of series of internal and external terraces allowing people to view the wetland at different levels and perspectives standing / seated and individually or collectively. Looking out over the whole expanse of the water, internally or externally," said the office.

Cafe Seating

The "feathered fabric" is the primary architectural feature, both externally and internally hovering above the natural horizon line inspired by the birds themselves standing often with outstretched wings in the water. 

Exhibition Area

Its pleats and folds give sense to motion across the surface but provide additional structural depth and space within the roof for required services  and a warm air reservoir.   

Main Entrance Approach

This key feature appears as ephemeral and shifting sitting above the terraces, this billowing soffit recalls references of a desert tent or palm groove, which inside leads the eyes through spaces expanding ever outwards from the entrance back into the landscape beyond. 

The density of these patterns responds to the curvature of the pleated roof that like feathers is both linear fibres and single surface.

South Elevation

Training Room

Training Room Soffit

Key design elements

Design concept

Floor plan

Site plan

Section

Project facts

Design: Dave Edwards Design

Location: Abu Dhabi

Date: Competition 2020

Value: $7,000,000 Construction Budget

All images courtesy of Dave Edwards Design

> via Dave Edwards Design