American University in Dubai's Urban Pod Initiative Rethinks Public Furniture for Animals and Humans
The Urban Pod initiative at the American University in Dubai (AUD) yielded over 110 student proposals, facilitated by the Centre for Research, Innovation and Design (CRID) within the School of Architecture, Art and Design (SAAD). This program, created in collaboration with Dubai Culture and Livescale, involved 10 courses, nine faculty members, and 13 jury participants. Students focused on reimagining public furniture aimed at benefiting animals and nature. Among the standout projects are Purch Pod by Hadithya Chandrasekar, Rest and Nest Pod by Hind Chehal, and Crowtopia by Stephanie Hanna. Additional notable designs include Ṭuma'nīnah by Youssef Lotfy, Pawse by Haya Afify, and Tree of Co-Existence by Alia Taher. The school exhibition is a joint effort with Dezeen.
Key facts
- The Urban Pod initiative at the American University in Dubai generated more than 110 student proposals
- The programme spanned 10 courses, nine faculty members and 13 international jury members
- It was organised by AUD's Centre for Research, Innovation and Design (CRID) in collaboration with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Livescale
- Students came from architecture, interior design and the Master of Urban Design and Digital Environments (MUDDE) programmes
- Projects included Hadithya Chandrasekar's Purch Pod, inspired by UAE dunes, ghaf tree roots and coral formations
- Hind Chehal's Rest and Nest Pod uses stacked cylindrical modules, solar panels and recycled polymers or biocomposites
- Stephanie Hanna's Crowtopia features a puzzle-based feeding system that requires crows to solve mechanical challenges
- The initiative included a public exhibition and a nine-minute documentary, and was presented as a Dezeen school show partnership with AUD
Entities
Artists
- Maryam Shafiei
- Imad Hanna
- Edoardo Rizzuti
- Poupak Parvaresh
- Annamaria Lambri
- Nicolas Turchi
- Chadi El Tabbah
- Mattia Gambardella
- Georges Kachaamy
- Hind Chehal
- Stephanie Hanna
- Youssef Lotfy
- Haya Afify
- Azka Chaudhry
- Jana El Rassy
- Malak Shabaro
- Alia Taher
- Marieh Khalighinasab
- Hadithya Chandrasekar
Institutions
- American University in Dubai
- Centre for Research, Innovation and Design (CRID)
- School of Architecture, Art and Design (SAAD)
- Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture)
- Livescale
- Dezeen
- Center for Research, Innovation and Design
- School of Architecture, Art and Design
- Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
Locations
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- UAE