The Space Within was an architectural pavilion designed by ARDH Collective for Dubai Design Week 2025. Rooted in the cultural context of the UAE, it aimed to showcase their sustainable material solutions and their applications.

Constructed from DuneBlocks, modular units made of DuneCrete, the structure filtered shadows through circular openings that referenced the desert’s shifting light. DuneCrete, a next-generation low-carbon concrete developed in the Emirates, was produced using desert sand from Al Ain instead of ecologically harmful riverbed sand. By reducing cement content by 50%, it achieved up to 50% lower embodied carbon while maintaining the strength of conventional concrete.

At the core of the installation stood a round table that revealed the raw essence of ARDH: a collection of experiments, prototypes and material explorations that traced its ongoing journey of research and development.

Ultimately, The Space Within demonstrated how material, memory and landscape could intersect. It bridged heritage and innovation, offering a contemplative space while showcasing sustainable design practices that pointed to the future of architecture in the region.