El Patio by B8 Architecture

ON: 19 November, 2024

This particular project, experienced from the inside, has been a crazy spiral of emotions.

Establishing a company outside your home country often carries a sense of nostalgia, a feeling that sometimes can be overwhelming, but if the embassy calls you to represent your own country with your work, it’s nothing short of an honor.

First emotion: excitement! We’ve been selected for a very special project! Then comes a bit of uncertainty, as it is such a different project to what we normally do… But once we get into it, our usual feelings for any project kick in: commitment, effort, sacrifice, high standards, perfectionism, full dedication, passion…

The project concept stems from the idea of a PATIO, an essential component of traditional Andalusian architecture, the region from which our company originates, and one that is clearly influenced by islamic architecture, so strongly tied to the culture of southern Spain. An interior space that connects all the areas of the building, providing natural light and ventilation, while creating an atmosphere of intimacy and serenity. With this concept in mind, we decided that the central space of the pavilion would be this Patio, the heart, and around it, different areas would be organised and guide visitors toward it… These spaces are enclosed by a structure of arches, another key element of traditional architecture in our country, evoking the elegance of ancient stately homes. These arches not only serve a structural purpose but also offer a sense of openness and flow between the spaces, creating an atmosphere of harmony and continuity.

An addition, to cover the spaces surrounding the patio, we propose a lightweight wooden structure covered with bougainvillea, a plant species native to southern Spain, which decorates every Andalusian patio worthy of the name.

All these elements are interrelated and follow the same guiding principle: to create a central space that feels permeable from the outside. For this reason, all the elements are light, allowing a glimpse of the interior from the outside, so even if you can not see it directly, you can still sense it… that’s part of the charm. You can feel what’s happening inside, but to truly discover it, you must go in!.

And it has been a great challenge, also because there was an innovative idea behind it, based on the concept: unity is strength. This year was the first one that ten brands were selected to be exhibited together in the space. Just 80m²! not competing, but collaborating and enriching each other… and if managing a single client can sometimes be a challenge, managing 10 clients simultaneously has been no less demanding.

The key moment: construction. Stress and unexpected events, nothing new for us, we are used to handle all of it in the best possible way.

Finally, the big day, the inauguration… and what a day! So much emotion!! After the hard work, all 10 brands were excited and grateful, the representatives from our country’s institutions delighted with the completed work, and we were overjoyed by the fantastic feedback we received.

This year for Dubai Design Week 2024, you could feel the essence of Spain in El Patio at Downtown Design. A space that transports you to a patio from our country, full of joy, color, people and music.

What a PRIDE to have been part of this very special project!

Here you can see what they are saying about us: