DUBAI: From locally sourced coffee to the 3D printed structure, Dubai Municipality’s stand at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) is designed to be one of the event’s most sustainable. It aims to encapsulate the event’s mission to inspire climate action and embody the emirate’s commitment to sustainability.
The stand is the brainchild of the municipality in partnership with Generation 3D, a specialist in eco-friendly 3D design and construction. Shaped to resemble sweeping sand dunes, the stand features organic, sand-coloured, 3D-printed structures that appear to emerge from the ground. At its centre stands a ghaf tree, a national symbol, in a nod to the UAE’s heritage.
At first glance, the desert-themed stand is an architectural tribute to how life can thrive in even the most challenging, arid environments. On closer inspection, visitors can see for themselves how alternative materials could transform construction in the future. The stand itself is built from biofibre, a biocompound of recycled wo
od and PLA (fermented plant starches). The material is fully compostable or can be shredded to use for new stands, furniture or other projects, avoiding the waste typical to exhibition stands. In addition, all the wood and glass used on the stand is reclaimed from construction waste.
Dubai Municipality invites guests to discover the many projects and initiatives driving its sustainability agenda. Guests can interact with a virtual reality station providing a 3D, digital recreation of the Ras Al Khor development plan, to experience what it will be like to wander through the reserve’s mangroves when the project is completed. The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary sits at the heart of the city and is home to some 470 species of wildlife and 47 species of plants.
Another feature of the stand highlights the Al Warsan Waste to Energy Plant, the world’s largest of its kind, which sits on the outskirts of the city. A 3D model demonstrates how the plant will provide 220 MW of energy from 1.9 million tonnes of waste each
year when fully operational. This plant will be providing 50 percent of the power needed to run the Warsan Sewerage Treatment Plant. The other 50 percent of power will be generated by the Warsan Biogas to Energy Plant which is also showcased on this exhibit. Finally, guests can learn about the Dubai Deep Stormwater Tunnel, which uses gravity instead of pumps to move stormwater.
In addition to waste management, the stand demonstrates how Dubai is promoting sustainable urban planning and development. This activation exhibits the advanced Al Safat system, which Dubai Municipality uses to classify buildings based on their compliance with sustainability standards. Guests can also see how the government body uses a geospatial digital twin system to study and stimulate buildings’ environmental impact.
The activation also displays how the government is regulating the use of reclaimed materials as part of its alignment with the principles of the circular economy, reducing construction waste. Meanwhile, a robotic 3D
printing arm continually operates to represent how Dubai is using innovative technologies to construct buildings more sustainably. Dubai Municipality entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2022 for the construction of the world’s largest 3D printed building, which is a two-story building with a height of 9.5 metres at a total area of ??640 square metres. This endeavour was part of its strategy to promote and regulate the use of this advanced technology in the construction sector with a goal to incorporate 3D printing into 25 percent of each new building by 2025.
As well as educating on its infrastructure projects, Dubai Municipality’s stand is an opportunity to learn about the emirate’s work to reduce food waste. The UAE Food Bank, which provides meals to underprivileged individuals, is exhibited alongside an Emirati specialty coffee station showcasing UAE produce. It offers fresh, locally sourced ingredients and products, such as lattes made with organic Sidr honey and local milk.
One of the highlig
hts of the municipality’s stand is the pledge station, where visitors can take part in the Art for Change Initiative. For the duration of COP28, the iconic Deira Clock Tower will be illuminated by a beautiful piece of digital artwork. A seascape depicting a coral reef and marine life will be projected onto the Clock Tower. The generative artwork will evolve based on the number of ‘DubaiMoreSustainable’ pledges made on social media, via the ‘MoreSustainable.dm.gov.ae’ web app or at the Pledge station on Dubai Municipality’s stand at COP28. The bleached coral reefs will gradually transform into a vibrant ocean scene bursting with marine life. The artwork encourages people to reflect on their consumption and commit to a more sustainable existence.
At the heart of the stand is a central stage bringing all its elements together. Here, important announcements are made, and presentations are hosted. Stunning educational videos display some of Dubai’s most exciting and critical sustainability projects, providing a s
ense of its holistic strategy.
Every element on the Dubai Municipality stand has a story to tell and is designed to educate visitors about Dubai’s comprehensive plans for a sustainable future. These plans include commitments to expand nature reserves by 60 percent, double green spaces by 2040, as well as treat and use 100 percent of the city’s wastewater.
The overall aim is for guests to come away with a sense of how Dubai Municipality is creating a more pioneering, liveable, beautiful and sustainable city. They will witness first-hand how its long-term plan is supporting the UAE’s pursuit of net zero by 2050, through major emirate-wide projects, but also through encouraging individuals to live greener lives.
Dubai Municipality can be found in the Energy Transition Hub, Stand 113 in the Green Zone.
Source: Emirates News Agency