Ellipse Pavilion is an installation presented at Dubai Design Week, a leading regional design festival that brings together designers and creative practitioners to explore the evolving role of design. Commissioned by BMW, a globally recognized brand and the exclusive automotive partner for the event, the pavilion draws inspiration from the BMW 7 Series and its core principles of craftsmanship, timelessness, sustainability, colour, heritage, aesthetics, and comfort.
The pavilion was conceived around the duality of spatial interactions between the comfortable experience of the car, and the often-harsh climatic conditions of the desert highway. These values are translated into spatial and material expressions, where the precision and layering of automotive design are reinterpreted architecturally, allowing the pavilion to operate as an immersive extension of the vehicle experience.
With a total area of 90 m², the project operates at an intimate architectural scale, and its elliptical design establishes a dynamic contrast with the angular geometries of Dubai Design District. A hard metallic exterior envelopes a soft sinuous interior that invites visitors for a moment of intimacy and relief. The industrial quality of the exterior is carefully offset by refined architectural detailing, evoking the complexity and craftsmanship inherent in the automobile manufacturing process while maintaining a strong and protective outer presence.
In contrast, the interior reveals a subdued and immersive environment characterized by softness, warmth, and fluidity. A sequence of undulating walls organizes the space into a narrow gallery that gradually opens into a central hall, guiding visitors through a carefully choreographed spatial progression. Meticulously crafted objects by local and regional designers are displayed throughout, showcasing a range of experimental materials that recall the material richness, patinas, and refined finishes of the BMW 7 Series interior.
Through its deliberate juxtaposition of materials, atmospheres, and tectonic articulations, Ellipse encapsulates the essence of BMW’s design philosophy and offers a nuanced architectural interpretation of the luxury automotive experience. It creates a serene experience that doesn’t only invite people to engage and appreciate the art works, but it also gives them a special pause to duel and reflect.
