D3 DATE PALM
CONCEPT
BIOCIRCULER SUSTAINABLE
PERIODE
2022 INSTALLATION WAS FEATURED
LOCATE
DUBAI, D3 DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT
The UAE is home to over 40 million date palms, each generating around 20 kilograms of waste biomass every year—amounting to more than 500,000 tonnes of palm waste annually. Disposing of this material is a serious environmental challenge: the fibrous, lignocellulosic structure of date-palm fronds resists natural decomposition, and many farmers resort to burning the trimmings, releasing additional carbon into the atmosphere.
Every part of the palm—leaflet, rachis, and fibers—contains valuable lignocellulose that can be transformed into high-value products. Our work explores how this abundant resource can be repurposed into innovative architectural applications, from shading systems to façade treatments, that help reduce the Urban Heat Island effect and lower carbon emissions in existing buildings.
This project demonstrates the versatility and climate relevance of date-palm waste, turning an overlooked by-product into a sustainable material for today’s design and construction challenges. See the footage on the event and installation here