Deond, the studio co-founded by Ross Lovegrove and Ila Colombo, has designed an installation wrapped by three dimensional corrugated cardboards referencing " the rough, spiky seed of nature" in Dubai. 

The installation, named Enfold Pavilion, was showcased at the Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week from November 5th to 10th, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

With an AI-infused "second skin" fabric that reacts to the state of the body, the installation delves into the idea of phy-gital therapy. It seamlessly blends the digital and physical worlds to produce a profoundly immersive experience.

Established in 2023, Deond is a multidisciplinary practice that combines innovative vision with state-of-the-art knowledge. In order to promote a sustainable coexistence between the built and natural environments, they combine advanced manufacturing, interactive installations, and architecture in their pursuit of creating environments that are beautiful, useful, and sustainable.

With an exterior that alludes to the coarse, spiky seed of nature and a calming, regenerative core inside, the installation is a perfect example of biomimicry in design. Its overall circular shape represents the holistic embrace that connects technology, body, and mind in a continuous sense of enclosure. 

Soft, natural light can enter the room through the perforated roof, which varies in size and density. The intensity of the light changes as the sun moves across the sky. In keeping with the exhibition's dedication to sustainability, the entire structure and finish are made of corrugated cardboard. 

The so-called phy-gital display, a volumetric 3D podium, is located inside the pavilion. It is made up of two digital screens that are integrated into the architectural skin of the pavilion and a group of transparent reflective wires.

When the HUG (Holistic Unified Garment) bodysuit is viewed from a particular angle, the collection of wires creates a seamless, flowing garment. 

The volumetric garment can float and interact with the light thanks to this creative suspension system, which eliminates the need for large supporting materials and improves the conceptual and visual coherence of the body, technology, and space.

Deond, HUG Holistic Unified Garment. Image © Deond

The HUG bodysuit imagines new kinds of speculative tools that could help treat anxiety and de-accelerate the mind and body by fusing Eastern treatment methods with Western approaches to science and technology. 

The clothing stimulates the body's triggering points and imitates natural shapes using Al and 3D design tools. 

Deond investigates the potential advantages for both people and the ecosystem as a whole if the dichotomy of "Body as Machine/Body as Garden" were to vanish.

"Body as Machine” is an idea developed in the West that attempts to prioritise technological acceleration and considers a body as a vehicle that doesn’t know its limitations," said Ila Colombo & Deff Collective.

"Body as Garden" enhances self-regulatory capacity. This perspective is nourished in the East, where the body is not viewed as a vehicle with many separate parts, but a whole – a holistic environment."

"What if technological acceleration could give us a chance to become closer to nature - to return to what has been neglected and forgotten? How can we envision embedded devices that prevent physical anxiety, acting as a protective, healing second skin? How should we merge technology and nature to bridge?," they added.

Project facts

Project name: Enfold: The Holistic Embrace of Body and Technology
Design by: Deond (Ross Lovegrove and Ila Colombo)
Creative and Art Direction: Ila Colombo
Location: Dubai Design District (d3), Near the UAE flag, front facing the road between building 9-10
Bodysuit garment sponsor: Stratasys
Digital content: Deff collective

All images © Deed Studio unless otherwise stated. 

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corrugated cardboard Deond Dubai installation