Wendy Installation Abu Dhabi, UAE Building Design, Architecture Image

Wendy Abroad : Abu Dhabi Installation

Architecture in UAE design by HWKN Architects

post updated 7 September 2024

Wendy Abroad : air-purifying structure

Design: HWKN Architects

Wendy Goes Global With Abu Dhabi Installation As An Emblem Of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Hwkn’s ‘wendy,’

Previous Winner Of The 2012 Moma Ps1 Young Architects Program, Debuts In Abu Dhabi

10 Jan 2013

Wendy Abu Dhabi Installation

(Abu Dhabi – January 10, 2013) The Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, announce the international installation of Wendy Abroad, the HWKN (Hollwich Kushner)-designed air-purifying structure, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

image from architects

Wendy made her first appearance in New York City as the winner of the 2012 MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program when she was previously on display during the summer Warm-Up concert series. Wendy Abroad kicks off during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, January 13- January 17, 2013. The Wendy Abroad installation, re-envisioned in the context of a new site by the Foundation and powered by Masdar via solar energy for the first time, will be open to the public through February 6.

image from architects

“Generational product upgrades are common in almost all industries (for example the iPhone), but this is absent in architecture,” HWKN Co-principal Matthias Hollwich said. “With Wendy Abroad in Abu Dhabi we have the opportunity to explore evolutionary architecture with an upgraded scaffolding system, enhanced misters, new structural solutions, and a fully off-the-grid energy provision.”

Wendy is composed of fabric treated with a ground breaking titania nanofilm to neutralize airborne pollutants. Wendy will continue to clean the air again during her appearance in Abu Dhabi. Wendy’s boundary is defined by tools like shade, wind, rain, music, and visual identity to reach past the confines of physical limits. Spiky fabric arms shoot out blasts of cool air, music, and water (via cannons and mists) to create social zones throughout the Al Sahil Maydan Plaza of the Corniche.

image from architects

“The design for Wendy was a study in how far we could push the envelope of architecture to capture the public’s imagination and demonstrate what architecture can do for the built environment,” says HWKN Co-principal Marc Kushner. “Wendy Abroad is an opportunity to touch an even broader audience and raise awareness about the potential of the architecture that surrounds them.”

image from architects

The Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation works to contribute to the creation of positive futures for the citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the full realization of their potential and aspirations. To that end, the Foundation develops and supports charitable initiatives in the areas of education; arts, culture and heritage; and the environment. ”Much of what we do at the Sheikha Salama Foundation has a strong focus on the community and creating opportunities for community engagement. We are delighted to be supporting Wendy and offering this unique experience to the people of the UAE during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week,” stated Dr. Salvatore LaSpada, the Foundation’s Executive Director.

Helping to bring Wendy Abroad to Abu Dhabi was Shawati’ Projects, A Cultural Projects Consultancy agency and publishers of Abu Dhabi’s art, culture and design magazine, Shawati’.

image from architects

HWKN

Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation

The Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation works to contribute to the creation of positive futures for the citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the full realization of their potential and aspirations. To that end, the foundation develops and supports charitable initiatives in the areas of education; arts, culture and heritage; and the environment. The Foundation is the family foundation of Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan and was founded by her in 2010. The role of the Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation:

• Connector between stakeholders
• Convener for joint planning and shared action
• Incubator (sometimes initiating its own programs) as well as supporter of existing initiatives; always a value-adder (not duplicator)
• Knowledge generator

Website -: http://www.sshf.ae

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HWKN

HWKN (Hollwich Kushner) is a New York based architecture and design office whose projects span the worlds of architecture, branding, and development. HWKN embraces all facets of contemporary culture to enrich and reinvent buildings.

The office is involved in a diverse range of projects that include Wendy, the 2012 Museum of Modern Art PS1 Pavilion; J2, the tallest residential development in New Jersey; the Fire Island Pines Pavilion, and the UNIQLO Cubes. The office focuses on global cultural projects, large-scale developments, brand-enhancing interventions and architecture for our aging society.

Websites: hwkn.com + www.meetwendy.com

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will see an anticipated 30,000 participants from 150 countries, including globally recognized leaders from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other stakeholders, assemble in Abu Dhabi for what will be the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East. Announced by the UAE at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012, the event will take place from January 13 to 17, 2013 and will provide a platform for leaders to address the business, technology and financial challenges required for sustainable development and consider investments and partnerships that can deliver real world solutions.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will maintain the momentum created at the Rio+20 Earth Summit and address the social, environmental and economic challenges of sustainable development. These challenges will be addressed in the week’s five conferences and events: The Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) January 13 – 14; the sixth annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES) January 15 – 17; the International Water Summit (IWS) January 15 – 17; the fifth annual Awards Ceremony for the Zayed Future Energy Prize January 15; and the International Renewable Energy Conference in Abu Dhabi (ADIREC) January 15 – 17.

Participants in the week’s conferences and events will engage in open dialogue and collaboration to:

• Tackle the world’s most pressing issues in energy, water and environment
• Accelerate the global adoption of renewable energy
• Address water challenges in arid regions
• Elevate the water-energy-food nexus topics on the global agenda
• Encourage the dialogue between broad industry stakeholders to strengthen strategic partnerships
• Stimulate investment in water, energy and environment projects
• Promote the world’s latest innovation and technologies
• Educate the region about sustainability and empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Website: www.abudhabisustainabilityweek.com

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VP+C

Veeder Perman + Caniato (VP+C) is a NYC based experiential marketing, public relations and event design company specializing in luxury brands, lifestyle and the fashions and furnishings that surround us in the home, office and on our travels. Based in New York City since its founding in 1998, the agency understands how to navigate the global playing field and represents clients from all corners of the world.

Website: rel=”nofollow”vpcpartners.com

HWKN Architects

Wendy Abroad air-purifying structure images / information from HWKN Architects

Location: Al Sahil Maydan Plaza, Abu Dhabi, UAE