As Dubai Design Week gears up for its 10th edition, the excitement is palpable among the members of the design community, planning showcases and organising exhibitions. Among the many events, the annual Urban Commissions competition has captured everybody’s attention. This year's theme, Tawila (which translates to 'table' in English), challenged architects and designers to create innovative outdoor furniture that aim to foster interaction and communal experiences. The winner, Altqadum, a research-oriented design studio from Oman, impressed the judges with their creative and thought-provoking proposal, TukTukDum, combining elements of music with the traditional concept of a table.
TukTukDum reimagines the typical table as a unit that brings people of all ages together. “We wanted to preserve the primary function of the table but wished to reimagine it with elements of music. Drums, being prominently used in the region, were the perfect choice” says Najd Al Balushi, Architectural Designer at Altqadum. Joining the team as its third member, Najd found Altqadum to be the design house of her dreams with the freedom to express freely and collaborate with creatives around the world.
"TukTukDum, as the name suggests, is named after the beats of the drum" Najd tells MOJEH. Encouraging people to be performers, the legs of the table are designed with Musando and Waqafi drums, honouring the musical traditions of the region. The innovative concept, which will be on display during Design Week, allows people to play the drums as they converse and engage with each other, emphasising the power of music.
“Changing the mindset of the client is one of my favourite things about working at Altqadum." says Najd. "People come in wanting a black room and leave inspired by a colourful design, I think that’s very exciting,” she says of her experience working at the design house. Altqadum aspires to create designs that blend creativity with tradition and the team does it with the help of extensive research, resulting in unique projects that shine light on the region’s culture.
During the construction of the Bab Al Salam mosque, Altqadum’s most popular project, Najd recalls how “there were many trips made around Oman, researching existing prayer halls and understanding the elements used by previous generations, for example, the Arabic calligraphy in the mosques' design.” When asked what her favourite part of the Bab Al Salam mosque was, she answers “it is the women’s prayer hall, which is also the minaret of the mosque.”
Another project of Altqadum that has garnered attention is Bariid (meaning 'ice' in Arabic), a chair that debuted during Doha Design's first edition earlier this year. Bariid was made with a single sheet of aluminium, making it adaptable to the environment in terms of space and temperature. The debut featured an interactive installation where an ice cube containing the chair was placed at different locations on the opening day. When the ice melted, it revealed the chair, inviting viewers to have a seat.
The design house is currently working on multiple projects in the UAE, including a mosque in Sharjah — expected to mirror what is now referred to as the Altqadum style of masjids. Allowing for proper ventilation and keeping the surrounding simple but not without a tinge of exaggeration, the style finds the perfect balance between contemporary design and traditional architecture of prayer halls.
Altqadum continues to make its name as a promising design house in the region, exploring several avenues including offices, mosques and innovative furniture. If you're visiting this year's Dubai Design Week, make sure to stop by to see Altqadum's TukTukDum. Learn more about the design house here.
