The Secret Life of the Date Palm EPFL
Cyril Veillon / director of Archizoom
In our standardised world, dictated by the global economy and by industrialisation, can genuine local tradition ever inform architectural debate?
At Archizoom, a centre within the EPFL dedicated to the built environment, I value open questions on how to build differently. I am therefore especially interested in the work of Cultural Engineering, a Dubai practice that works on renovation, urbanism, publishing and education across the Arabian Gulf. They focus on vernacular intelligence and empirical knowledge as means of strengthening our contemporary identity.
“The Secret Life of the Date Palm” is based on research conducted by Cultural Engineering for the 2015 Milan Universal Exhibition’s UAE pavilion. They journeyed through the centuries-old love story between date palm trees and its multiple uses in food, design, construction, landscape and infrastructure. They also looked at the historical meaning and symbolic dimension that the palm tree has for inhabitants of the Middle East.
This integrated approach invites various practitioners to the debate. The know-how of a carpenter meets that of a date palm expert, a scientist and an historian. The architect uses folk knowledge in contemporary architecture and explores typologies and building techniques, whilst making rigorous use of common sense. On a macro scale, the research looks at the date palm’s impact on the urban setting, such as the irrigation systems designed for plantation that end up serving as high-quality public spaces in the desert.
With this book, we intend to support broad-minded thinking and to commend smart urban intervention that is rooted in curiosity, pragmatism and inclusiveness.
The Book
Six date palm characteristics provide the structure of this book: Form, Fruit, Hydration, Metamorphosis, Shade and Shadow, and Gender. Each investigation draws on Emirati traditions and tacit knowledge to share a narrative that is infused with sensitivity, genuine curiosity and human inventiveness.
This is the story of a species that continues to provide great value to the Middle East. It is our hope that the spirit of engagement and ingenuity employed throughout history inspires others to find value in their own regional resources, climates and cultures. We invite you to join us in exploring the date palm as a provider and sustainer of life.
A research conducted by Cultural Engineering and Case Design