Dezeen Showroom: several different fabric and stylistic finishes are available for the LXR03 swivel chair, which Amsterdam designer Thijs Smeets has created for Leolux LX.
The LXR03 armchair is designed by Smeets to be highly customisable, ensuring users can tailor it to suit their interior spaces.
The customisable elements include its upholstery, for which a mix of coloured fabrics and leathers are available and can be applied differently across the front and back of the seat.
The LXR03 swivel chair is highly customisable
"Thanks to the many styling options, the armchair can easily be tailored to blend in or stand out in any interior," said Dutch furniture brand Leolux LX.
"For instance, the upholstery for the inside and the outside of the armchair can be selected separately in either leather or fabric."
It is available with a high or low back
Users can also choose the height of the LXR03's backrest, which is available in two different sizes, as well as the style of the swivel base.
The lower backrest has been developed for use in more open interiors, while the higher version offers users privacy and an "enclosed sitting experience", according to Leolux LX.
A mix of coloured fabrics and leathers are available for its upholstery
The base of the armchair is available in an aluminium or oak finish.
The LXR03 can also be completed with an optional footstool, available in two styles.
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Designed "as a symbol of the UAE's pioneering spirit", the host nation's pavilion stands near the centre of the expo site alongside the Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed central Al Wasl Plaza.
Santiago Calatrava designed the UAE Pavilion at Dubai Expo
"The UAE Pavilion was designed to embody the main theme of Expo 2020 Connecting Minds, Creating the Future and serve as a symbol of the UAE’s pioneering spirit," Calatrava's office told Dezeen.
"Located in the Opportunity District of Expo 2020 Dubai, every aspect of the pavilion is representative of the host country, from the building's architecture, which resembles a falcon, the UAE’s national bird, to the surrounding landscape."
The roof opens up to allow light into the pavilion
The four-storey pavilion was informed "by a falcon in flight" and is topped by a series of metal "wings" that can be opened to allow light and air into the pavilion.
Each of the wings pivots around a single point and the entire roof can be opened in three minutes.
The wings are made from metal
"The conceptual framework was based on inspiration from the grace and force of a falcon, the UAE's national bird," said Calatrava's studio.
"By channelling the powers of mobility, synchronized flow, and technological innovation, the relationship between architectural spaces and structural systems fuse together to create connections that connect the overall space with the main theme of Expo 2020."
A sphere-shaped auditorium is at the centre of the pavilion
At the centre of the 15,000-square-meter pavilion is a sphere-shaped void that serves as an auditorium with a capacity of 200.
It is surrounded by a multi-level gathering space, which is topped with a circular skylight that incorporates the Expo 2020 logo.
Within the rest of the pavilion are a series of immersive exhibits dedicated to both the history and future of the country.
The space is topped by a roof light that looks like Dubai Expo logo
"The UAE Pavilion offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history and future of the United Arab Emirates – from its origins to its thriving present and its visionary future," the studio continued.
"We hope that visitors see it as a testament to the passion and dedication of the people of the UAE, serving as a reminder of the values of the nation, its resilience, and boundless future."
In line with Expo 2020's theme of sustainability the pavilion was certified LEED Platinum and is compliant with the Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications (DGBR).
It is surrounded by landscaping containing 80 trees and over 5,600 plants, of which 2,350 are "considered to be of cultural importance to the UAE".
The pavilion was designed as a space for gathering
The Dubai Expo is the latest World Expo – an international exhibition designed to showcase architecture and innovation. The six-month event will see contributions from 180 countries and is expected to attract around 10 million visitors.
In an effort to make solar panels beautiful, Marjan van Aubel has created translucent, stained-glass-like photovoltaics, which have been unveiled as part of the Netherlands' pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020.
The solar panels are installed on the roof of The Dutch Biotope pavilion, where they serve the dual role of powering the exhibition and allowing sunlight into the space.
Marjan van Aubel's tinted solar panels form a skylight in the Dutch pavilion
The panels have a moiré-effect pattern rendered in pinks and blues, and cast tinted light onto visitors in the space.
Van Aubel created the work to show that as well as providing an important source of renewable energy, solar panels "can be beautiful and a form of art".
"At different points in the day the light, shadows and colours will change and so I hope it feels like a constantly changing immersive experience, similar to the light falling through a stained-glass window," van Aubel told Dezeen.
The solar panels fill the space with coloured light
"Besides providing power for the pavilion, I like the fact that the colours chosen for the design are not only beautiful but also cool down the pavilion," she continued.
The Dutch Biotope pavilion, designed by V8 Architects, is a miniature self-sustaining world that creates its own water, energy and crops.
The colours of the solar panels allow light in at the wavelengths that plants need for photosynthesis, between 400 and 700 nanometres.
The solar panels feature a moiré-like pattern and are printed on thin film
An additional goal of van Aubel's is to further the use of more sustainable materials in the production and use of solar panels.
"Both batteries and standard solar cells are made of rare and toxic materials," she said. "It's important for me to see where things are produced and of which materials they are made."
The solar panels in The Dutch Biotope pavilion use coloured organic photovoltaics from manufacturer Armor Asca.
The colours chosen for the panels allow for plant photosynthesis and help to cool the space
They are created using light-absorbing organic dyes that cover tiny particles of titanium dioxide nanomaterial to turn sunlight into electricity.
They are printed on a thin, flexible and recyclable PET film that can be rolled up for transportation, and van Aubel has designed the installation to be easily disassembled for circular use.
"The OPV used for The Netherlands Pavilion is different to traditional solar cells," the designer said. "We have used a third-generation organic thin film technology that works and looks different from the standard ones and their energy pay back time is just a couple of months."
"This is a massive difference if you compare it to monocrystalline or polycrystalline cells, the ones you see on roofs," she continued.
Van Aubel set out to show that solar panels can be objects of beauty. Photograph by Buro Belén
The solar cells were shipped from Amsterdam to Dubai and rolled out onto the glass of the pavilion's roof in what van Aubel describes as a simple assembly process.
They are covered with a second sheet of glass and electrically connected to a local battery that powers the pavilion.
After the Expo, the solar panels are destined for a new destination, which has yet to be disclosed, while the glass sandwiching the foil will go back to its manufacturer, in keeping with the pavilion's circular ethos.
They also showcase a more sustainable use of materials than has previously been used for solar panels. Photograph by Buro Belén
Like the Olympics, Expo 2020 retained its name despite being moved to 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
The Dutch Biotope pavilion is located in the Sustainability District of the Expo, and van Aubel told Dezeen she hopes it gives people the opportunity to educate themselves about the technology and design available to steer the world into a post-fossil fuel future.
"This may be the first time people will experience solar power in this way," she said.
"I hope it will change their perspective on what is possible in terms of solar integration, especially in Dubai, where there is a lot of sun, and a lot of surfaces to create power in a beautiful way."
The Dutch Biotope pavilion is located in the Sustainability district of Expo 2020
The solar designer's other recent work includes Sunne, a lamp to be hung in front of windows so it can generate its own energy, and she is one of the founders of an upcoming Solar Biennale that launches next year.
Follow Me allows users to easily move between sitting and standing positions depending on the task at hand, and fold and store the table away when it is out of use.
Follow Me is a space-saving and height-adjustable table
According to Mara, the table's design responds to changing requirements of the workplace and is suited to domestic environments and offices.
It also encourages users to move away from "static and sedentary lifestyles" to help them "feel inspired and productive" while working.
It can be folded for storage purposes
Follow Me is available in small and large versions with a range of colours and finishes. However, they are all fitted with Mara's patented "no-gravity" system.
This system means that the table can be freely adjusted without electricity, batteries or pumps. Users can also freely move the table around a space using hidden wheels and a handle.
Its height can be freely adjusted without electricity
"Stackable, compact and sturdy, this product features a dynamic design to perfectly meet the changing requirements of the work," said the brand.
"Whether you want to work in an armchair, on the sofa, in bed or on the terrace, standing or secluded in a quiet corner at home, Follow Me follows you everywhere and encourages its own use."
About Dezeen Showroom:Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
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Public vote winners will be announced 18-22 October. The public vote is separate from the main Dezeen Awards 2021 judging process, in which entries are assessed by our panel of professional judges. We'll be announcing the Dezeen Awards 2021 winners online in late November.
Who's in the lead?
With 45,311 votes received so far, here is a snapshot of which projects and studios have received the most support. There's still time to influence the results, so keep voting!
