Creating A Complete Winter Environment At Al Wasl Plaza

Expo Winter Fest 2023 required the transformation of Al Wasl Plaza into a complete temporary winter environment. Evolution Scenic was appointed by the event producer to design, fabricate, install and technically support the scenic package. The company also maintained the installation throughout its public operating period.

The project was developed and delivered over two months. Rather than focusing on a single stage or feature structure, the scope covered an extensive collection of architectural, sculptural and interactive scenic elements. These included a traditional chalet-style Christmas market, Santa’s House, a themed toy factory, festive fairground installations, tree islands, oversized baubles, entrance gates and a refurbished Santa letter station. 

Each element formed part of the same visual environment, but its construction needed to respond to a different structural or operational requirement.

Developing The Scenic Architecture

The chalet-style market established the principal architectural language for the project. Pitched roofs, timber detailing and traditional winter decoration created the appearance of a seasonal European market while remaining compatible with temporary event construction.

The structures needed sufficient strength for installation and operation but also had to be practical to manufacture, transport, assemble and maintain. Timber framing provided the primary construction method for many of the architectural components. Plywood and MDF were used to form walls, façades, roof sections, trims and decorative details.

Working from a common design language allowed individual structures to retain their own identity while reading as part of one connected winter village. Santa’s House expanded this architectural treatment into an immersive themed installation. The building incorporated festive scenic detailing and Christmas elements designed to create a richer spatial experience than a simple decorative façade.

Golden entrance gates and associated scenic structures marked transition points through the environment. In addition to reinforcing the visual treatment, these elements helped organise the flow between different zones.

Combining Workshop Disciplines

The breadth of the project required several scenic manufacturing disciplines to operate within one production programme. Carpentry teams produced the framed chalet structures, walls, roofs and detailed joinery components. Metal fabrication supported structural elements and the internal frames required for technically integrated installations.

MDF provided smooth surfaces for routed profiles, decorative forms and painted scenic details.Plywood supplied robust sheet construction where greater structural performance was required. Steel was incorporated where structures needed additional rigidity or where moving components placed greater demands on the supporting framework.

The workshop also produced sculptural characters, oversized baubles, gift boxes, decorative islands and numerous smaller themed components. Managing these disciplines within one coordinated production process ensured that architectural structures, props and animated elements shared a consistent standard of fabrication and finish.

Fabricating Elves & Toy-Factory Installation

The hand-carved elves were produced in styrofoam. This method allowed the sculptors to create expressive three-dimensional forms without the weight associated with solid timber or heavier moulded materials. Following carving, the figures received a hard protective coating. The coating increased surface durability and provided a stable base for the final scenic treatment.

The characters were designed to work within the scale of the wider environment. Their proportions and finishes needed to remain visually legible beside the chalet structures, tree installations and larger decorative features. By treating the elves as constructed scenic assets rather than lightweight decorative ornaments, Evolution Scenic was able to integrate them more effectively into the complete environment.

The toy factory contained some of the project’s most technically integrated scenic work.The structure used metal framing, wire mesh and moisture-resistant MDF to form its architectural and decorative surfaces. Moving gifts were incorporated into the installation, introducing mechanical operation within the themed environment.This required the scenic fabrication and technical systems to be developed together. Support frames needed to accommodate the movement, while external finishes had to conceal or visually absorb the underlying technical components.

The moving features also needed to remain accessible for inspection and maintenance during operation. Snow flocking completed the winter treatment, unifying the toy factory with the surrounding chalet structures and decorative installations. The completed feature demonstrated how animated scenery can be incorporated within a temporary public environment without allowing the mechanical system to dominate its visual character.

Producing The Festive Focal Points

Large decorative elements were positioned throughout Al Wasl Plaza to create focal points between the main architectural structures. Tree islands combined artificial trees, fairy lighting and snow dressing. These installations introduced height and texture while helping connect the different scenic zones.

A major Christmas tree provided a central vertical feature within the wider composition. Oversized baubles and gift boxes were fabricated to remain effective within the scale of the plaza. Their three-dimensional construction gave them greater presence than printed or flat decorative treatments.

A giant bauble arrangement was installed on a custom circular platform at the centre of the main stage area. The purpose-built base helped define the composition and provided a controlled interface between the large props and the venue surface.

The Santa letter station was refurbished and incorporated into the updated scenic treatment. Surrounding decorations, timber gift boxes and themed elements allowed the reused structure to sit naturally within the newly fabricated environment.

Installing The Complete Scenic Package

The site installation brought together structures manufactured using different materials and construction methods. Chalet buildings required accurate positioning and alignment so that their roof forms, façades and decorative details retained a consistent architectural rhythm. Large freestanding props needed to be securely installed while preserving their intended orientation and sightlines.

The toy factory required both scenic assembly and technical commissioning. Its structural, decorative and moving components needed to operate as one finished installation. Tree islands, lighting features, entrance treatments and smaller props were then integrated around the principal structures to complete the environment. Project management personnel remained present during delivery, coordinating the scenic and technical work with the event producer. The installation was completed on programme.

Supporting The Environment During Operation

Evolution Scenic remained on site throughout the operating period.

This ongoing responsibility allowed the team to maintain architectural finishes, decorative props, interactive elements and moving scenic systems after the public opening.

Temporary environments experience different demands from static exhibition displays. Visitor contact, repeated operation, environmental exposure and daily cleaning can all affect scenic surfaces and technical elements.

On-site maintenance allowed the team to respond directly to these operational requirements.

The arrangement also ensured that any adjustment was undertaken with an understanding of the original construction methodology, materials and scenic finish.

Delivering A Unified Temporary Environment

The completed Expo Winter Fest environment combined scenic architecture, custom manufacturing and technical production across a broad site.

Its chalet-style structures established a coherent architectural setting. Sculptural elves, giant baubles, gift boxes and tree islands added depth and character. Santa’s House and the letter station created interactive destinations, while the toy factory introduced movement and technical animation.

Behind the winter appearance was a coordinated manufacturing process involving timber framing, steel fabrication, MDF and plywood construction, sculptural carving, hard coating, scenic finishing and mechanical integration.

Evolution Scenic’s complete scope—from design development through maintenance—allowed the environment to be treated as one operational scenic system.

The result demonstrated the company’s ability to design and manufacture complex temporary environments that combine architectural scale, detailed prop work and technically integrated scenic features.

Building a Complete Pre-COP28 Conference Environment

The Pre-COP28 Conference took place at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on 30–31 October 2023, requiring a complete temporary environment across several indoor and outdoor areas. Evolution Scenic delivered the full scenic scope, creating coordinated spaces for the main conference, meetings, hospitality and cultural displays.

Evolution Scenic managed the project from design development through scenic fabrication, graphics production, installation and de-rig. The scope extended beyond the main stage to include three enclosed meeting rooms, entrance features, outdoor seating environments, photo opportunity settings and custom product displays.

The fabrication programme brought together several scenic construction disciplines. Custom steelwork was used for the main stage and selected platforms, while timber framing, MDF cladding, fabric finishes, vinyl graphics, painted surfaces and bespoke scenic joinery were used across the surrounding environments.

The meeting rooms and outdoor lounge areas introduced different forms of temporary architecture. Three-metre-high fabric-finished wall systems created enclosed meeting spaces, while timber-framed outdoor structures with fabric treatments and three-dimensional branding created more open hospitality and cultural environments.

Evolution Technical supplied the LED screens and supporting steelwork, including the large curved main-stage display. Evolution Furniture provided the loose furniture throughout the indoor and outdoor areas, allowing the scenic, technical and furniture packages to operate as one coordinated temporary installation.

Delivering the Environment Within Fourteen Days

The complete Pre-COP28 scenic environment was delivered within a 14-day programme, requiring design development, technical coordination, material preparation, workshop fabrication, graphics production and site installation to progress within a tightly controlled sequence.

The main-stage package combined custom steel decking, plywood, MDF skimming, carpet finishes and integrated LED step lighting. At the same time, the three meeting rooms required timber-framed wall construction, MDF cladding, fabric finishes, glass partitions and rear truss support.

Outdoor seating structures, entrance features, photo opportunity elements and product-display areas introduced additional fabrication methods and finishing processes. Timber framing, painted MDF, printed vinyl, fabric treatments and three-dimensional branding all needed to be produced alongside the larger structural packages.

The compressed programme therefore depended on dividing the project into coordinated fabrication packages that could progress in parallel before installation. Maintaining consistency across materials, finishes, graphics and branding was essential so that the different spaces still read as one complete conference environment.

Evolution Scenic coordinated the scenic delivery with Evolution Technical’s LED screen and support systems and Evolution Furniture’s loose furniture package. This allowed the stage, meeting rooms, outdoor areas and display environments to be brought together within the same 14-day delivery period.

Engineering the Curved Main Stage and Frameless LED Screen

The main conference setting centred on a 29-metre curved stage aligned with a matching curved LED screen, creating the principal architectural focus within the Pre-COP28 environment. The scale of both elements meant that the stage geometry, screen positioning and surrounding scenic construction needed to be developed as one coordinated composition.

Evolution Scenic fabricated the stage using a custom steel deck system, providing the primary structural platform for the presentation area. Plywood decking was fixed over the steel frame, followed by an MDF skimming layer that created a smoother and more consistent substrate for the final carpet finish while reducing the visual effect of joints within the underlying deck.

The front edge and access steps followed the same curved geometry as the main platform, maintaining continuity across the full stage profile. LED lighting was integrated into the step fascia, clearly defining the access points while introducing a controlled illuminated detail into the otherwise restrained stage construction.

The 29-metre curved LED screen was supplied by Evolution Technical and supported by steelwork positioned behind the display. No scenic screen returns or surrounding frame were installed, allowing the screen itself to remain the dominant visual plane within the conference setting and giving the stage a cleaner, frameless appearance.

Because the screen was left visually exposed at its edges, the relationship between the stage curve, LED geometry and rear support structure required careful coordination. Any dimensional inconsistency between the platform and display would have remained visible across the full width of the installation, particularly where the curved elements met the surrounding scenic walls.

The completed stage created a continuous relationship between the carpeted presentation platform, frameless LED display and illuminated access points. The result was a large-scale conference setting in which structural steelwork, scenic finishing and technical integration were combined into one controlled stage environment.

Enclosing and Branding the Main Conference Stage

Steel-framed scenic walls were installed along both sides of the main conference area to define the presentation zone and complete the overall stage environment. Their scale helped integrate the curved stage and LED screen into a controlled architectural setting rather than leaving them as isolated technical elements.

The wall structures received fabric finishes, creating broad and visually consistent surfaces around the stage. Fabric was used as an architectural scenic treatment, producing a clean enclosure while allowing the 29-metre curved LED screen to remain the dominant visual feature within the conference setting.

Because the LED display was designed without conventional scenic screen returns, the relationship between the frameless screen, adjacent fabric-finished walls and curved stage required careful coordination. The transitions between these elements needed to remain visually controlled so that the complete composition read as one continuous scenic environment.

A custom lectern was fabricated from MDF and positioned within the main presentation area. Branded vinyl was applied to the front fascia, while the internal surfaces received a painted finish, creating a compact branded element within the much larger stage composition.

The completed environment combined the frameless curved LED display, fabric-finished scenic walls, carpeted stage and custom lectern into one restrained conference setting. Branding was incorporated directly into the scenic construction without introducing unnecessary additional structures around the principal screen.

Creating Three Enclosed Meeting Rooms

Evolution Scenic fabricated three enclosed meeting rooms, each measuring 11 by 14 metres, creating substantial temporary interiors within the wider Pre-COP28 environment. Their scale required a more developed scenic construction approach than standard event partitions.

Each room was formed using three-metre-high scenic walls built from timber-framed construction. MDF cladding created the finished wall faces before fabric was applied across the visible surfaces, producing a controlled and consistent interior finish.

Rear truss supports were installed behind the wall structures to provide additional support while keeping the structural system concealed from the main meeting spaces. This allowed the visible interior surfaces to remain clean and uninterrupted.

Painted three-dimensional cut-out logos were mounted onto the fabric-finished walls as integrated branding elements. The raised logos introduced depth and shadow without relying on additional printed graphic panels.

Together, the timber framing, MDF cladding, fabric finishes, rear truss support and dimensional branding created three fully defined temporary meeting environments. The construction provided a consistent scenic language across all three rooms while maintaining a restrained conference setting.

Completing the Meeting-Room Interiors

Each meeting room incorporated fabric-finished scenic walls on three sides, creating a controlled interior environment consistent with the wider Pre-COP28 visual language. The wall treatment helped give the rooms a more complete temporary architectural character rather than functioning as simple partitioned spaces.

The fourth side of each room used an aluminium-framed glass partition fitted with curtains. This provided a lighter visual boundary while allowing the glazed elevation to be screened when additional privacy was required during meetings.

Evolution Scenic fabricated custom meeting tables from birch plywood and finished them with a natural wood appearance. The material introduced a warmer finish within the predominantly fabric-lined interiors while allowing each table to be manufactured specifically for the meeting-room layout.

Freestanding air-conditioning units were positioned within the rooms to support the enclosed temporary environment. Branded flags and planter boxes were placed at the corners, introducing vertical graphic and planting elements without reducing the usable central meeting area.

Loose chairs and supporting furniture were supplied by Evolution Furniture and coordinated with the custom tables and scenic surroundings. Together, the fabric walling, glazed partitions, bespoke tables, branded elements and furniture created three consistent and fully developed meeting-room interiors.

Fabricating the Entrance and Photo Opportunity Features

The arrival environment included a custom entrance arch wall developed as one of the principal branded scenic features within the Pre-COP28 venue. Its scale and position helped define the transition into the conference environment while carrying the project identity across a clear architectural form.

The entrance structure was fabricated from metal framing and clad with MDF to create the finished scenic surfaces. Applied vinyl graphics were used across the visible faces, allowing the branding to become part of the structure rather than being introduced as separate signage.

A separate photo opportunity area was built around a custom steel-deck platform topped with plywood. The platform was skimmed with MDF before receiving a painted finish, creating a smooth scenic surface that differed from the carpeted construction used on the main conference stage.

Behind the platform, a printed-fabric backdrop formed the principal scenic wall of the photo opportunity setting. The large-format fabric treatment provided a continuous graphic surface, while a centrally positioned logo established a clear branded focal point within the composition.

Together, the entrance arch and photo opportunity area extended the project identity beyond the main conference and meeting spaces. Their combination of metalwork, MDF cladding, printed graphics, fabric finishes and custom platform construction demonstrated the use of different scenic fabrication methods across the wider venue.

Constructing the Outdoor Seating Environments

The outdoor seating areas were organised around round scenic structures that created a distinct lounge setting within the wider Pre-COP28 environment. Their curved form introduced a softer architectural language than the rectangular meeting rooms while still maintaining a clear relationship with the overall project design.

Each structure was fabricated using white-painted timber framing combined with fabric finishes. The open construction defined the seating areas without creating fully enclosed rooms, allowing the lounge environments to remain visually connected to the surrounding outdoor setting.

A central back panel was incorporated into each structure and used as the main branded focal point. Painted three-dimensional cut-out logos were mounted onto these panels, introducing depth and a more physical form of branding than flat printed graphics.

The combination of curved timber framing, fabric treatments and three-dimensional branding created a recognisable scenic identity across the outdoor areas. These elements allowed the lounge structures to function as temporary architectural features while remaining visually consistent with the wider conference environment.

Furniture within the outdoor lounge settings was supplied by Evolution Furniture and positioned within the fabricated scenic structures. The final arrangement brought together scenic framing, branded back panels and loose furniture to create coordinated hospitality spaces within the external venue areas.

Producing Product Displays and Cultural Features

The product-display areas combined printed graphic surfaces with custom scenic joinery, creating a series of integrated presentation features within the wider Pre-COP28 environment. Rather than relying on standalone commercial display units, the shelving and plinths were developed as part of the scenic composition.

Backdrop structures were finished with printed vinyl, allowing detailed imagery and branded content to be applied directly across the main display surfaces. These graphic treatments provided a controlled visual background for the products while remaining consistent with the broader conference identity.

Custom shelves were manufactured from MDF and finished with paint before being integrated into the display backdrops. This allowed the displayed items to sit within purpose-built scenic structures rather than on separate furniture, giving the presentation areas a more considered architectural character.

Freestanding display plinths were also fabricated from MDF and finished with textured paint. The textured surface introduced additional material depth and helped distinguish the plinths from the flatter printed and painted surfaces used elsewhere in the display areas.

Selected cultural elements incorporated traditional Emirati motifs and materials, as noted in the original project information. VIP welcome features also included custom baskets containing locally sourced products, extending the cultural presentation into the hospitality experience without relying solely on graphic branding.

Coordinating Scenic, Technical and Furniture Delivery

The project brought together three specialist Evolution divisions, allowing the scenic, technical and furniture packages to be developed as part of one coordinated delivery. This approach was particularly important because the main stage, meeting rooms, outdoor lounges and display environments all depended on different fabrication and installation requirements.

Evolution Scenic managed the complete scenic scope, from design development and workshop fabrication through graphics production, installation and de-rig. This included the main stage construction, scenic walling, meeting-room environments, entrance features, photo opportunity structures, outdoor lounge elements and custom product displays.

Evolution Technical provided the 29-metre curved LED screen together with the associated display systems and rear support structures. Close coordination between the technical package and scenic construction was required to align the curved screen accurately with the stage geometry and surrounding fabric-finished walls.

Evolution Furniture supplied the loose furniture used throughout the conference, meeting and outdoor lounge areas. These elements were coordinated with the fabricated scenic structures so that the final spaces functioned as complete environments rather than as separate scenic and furniture installations.

The finished project combined a 29-metre curved stage and frameless LED screen, three large meeting rooms, outdoor lounge structures, branded entrance architecture, photo opportunity features and custom display areas within a 14-day delivery programme. The result demonstrated how coordinated scenic fabrication, technical integration and furniture delivery can support a multi-zone temporary conference environment.

Fabricating a Modular Ramadan Environment for Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach

For Ramadan 2022, Evolution Scenic manufactured and installed a temporary scenic environment at SUQ Restaurant within Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. The project introduced a series of decorative architectural features throughout the restaurant, including six principal mashrabiya-style entrance arches, additional walkway arches, CNC-routed geometric screens, integrated lighting, fairy lights and branded scenic elements.

Evolution Scenic also constructed a temporary stage above the restaurant’s existing water fountain. The scenic package was manufactured from completed client drawings. Evolution Scenic’s responsibility was therefore centred on translating the supplied design into practical workshop-built structures that could be transported, installed and later removed without becoming permanent parts of the venue.

The complete installation was delivered in one day. Manufacturing from completed client drawings requires more than reproducing the visible outline of a design. The supplied forms need to be interpreted as physical assemblies. Sheet materials, framing, panel divisions, joints, access points and temporary fixing locations all need to work together without changing the intended visual proportions.

For the Four Seasons Ramadan installation, this process centred on a repeated mashrabiya arch system. The six principal arches shared a common architectural language but were positioned within different existing openings. Additional walkway arches extended the same treatment through other areas of the restaurant.

The design used a rectangular outer frame containing geometric lattice panels and a central scalloped opening. The layered arch profiles created depth around the passageway, while the surrounding routed screens produced a detailed patterned surface. The challenge was to retain this visual complexity while manufacturing the features as modular temporary scenery.

Manufacturing the Six Principal Arches

Evolution Scenic fabricated six decorative entrance arches. The arches were manufactured from MR MDF, plywood and timber framing. These materials provided the combination of shaped scenic surfaces, structural support and workshop workability required for the modular assemblies.

Each unit was constructed as a freestanding scenic feature. The timber frame established the overall geometry of the unit and supported the sheet-material surfaces. Layered sections formed the scalloped inner arch, while the CNC-routed screen panels completed the outer decorative field.

The individual components needed to align accurately so that the arch appeared as one complete architectural feature rather than a collection of separate panels. Particular attention was required where the curved opening met the surrounding geometric lattice. Uneven spacing or inconsistent borders would have been visible immediately within the highly ordered pattern. The completed units were temporarily secured at the venue openings. This allowed them to remain stable during use while preserving their status as removable scenic structures.

The mashrabiya-style screen panels were manufactured using CNC routing. CNC production allowed the repeated geometric pattern to be transferred accurately from the design information to the sheet material. The process was suited to the detailed network of openings visible across the screen surfaces. Consistent cutting helped maintain the rhythm of the design across multiple panels and arch assemblies.

The routed pattern needed to achieve two objectives. First, it had to reproduce the intended decorative appearance. The geometry needed to remain sharp and balanced at close viewing distances within the restaurant. Second, each routed sheet needed to retain enough continuous material to remain practical as a scenic panel. The openings could not weaken the piece to the point that it became difficult to transport or install.

Panel edges, pattern terminations and connections to the surrounding frames therefore formed an important part of the manufacturing process. Once incorporated into the completed arch units, the routed panels created a layered surface through which the internal lighting could remain visible.

Creating Depth Through Layered Scenic Joinery

The entrance features were not flat graphic backdrops. Multiple scenic layers were used to build depth around the openings. The rectangular outer frame defined the full footprint of each installation. Geometric screen panels occupied the spaces around the doorway, while the shaped inner sections formed the scalloped arch profile. Repeated curved layers projected into the opening, giving the entrance a more substantial architectural appearance. This construction method allowed a relatively shallow temporary unit to create the impression of a deeper built form.

The visible result depended on accurate scenic joinery. Curved profiles had to remain consistent from one side of the arch to the other, and the decorative layers needed to meet without distracting gaps or misalignment. The images from the completed project show the scalloped frames positioned within geometric screen surrounds, with illumination visible through the lower lattice panels.

Additional arches were installed along the restaurant’s walkways. These features carried the principal mashrabiya language beyond the main entrances and created repetition throughout the temporary environment. Using a consistent family of arch profiles and geometric screens helped connect separate areas of the venue without relying on a single large scenic structure.

The walkway units also needed to preserve the restaurant’s circulation routes. Their size and position were therefore governed by the existing openings and available floor area. The modular construction allowed each feature to be placed within the venue while maintaining access through the centre of the arch. The additional units demonstrated how one scenic design system could be adapted across multiple architectural conditions.

Preparing for a One-Day Installation

The complete installation was delivered in one day. A programme of this duration places most of the manufacturing responsibility in the workshop. The arches could not be fabricated from raw material inside the restaurant. They needed to arrive as prepared modular units requiring only controlled assembly, placement, temporary fixing and final lighting work. The same principle applied to the fountain stage. Its timber substructure needed to be prepared so that the platform could be assembled efficiently around the existing feature.

Evolution Scenic delivered the scenic lighting associated with the installation. The principal arches incorporated internal upright lighting, positioned within the lower sections of the decorative assemblies.

The lights illuminated the routed openings and produced a visible glow through the geometric panels. This strengthened the patterned surfaces and emphasised the separation between the outer screens and the inner arch profiles. Lighting was therefore part of the physical scenic composition. The units needed to accommodate the lights, cable routes and connection points without exposing unnecessary technical components within the finished restaurant environment.

Fairy lights were installed through the wider space, extending the illuminated treatment between the individual arches and scenic features. The official project record confirms the use of internal upright lighting in the principal arches and decorative fairy lights across the dining environment.

Engineering the Nano Robot for Mansour Festival

The 2024 Mansour Festival at Zayed Sports Complex required a large-scale scenic interpretation of the Nano Robot character. Evolution Scenic was responsible for designing, fabricating and installing the freestanding structure in Abu Dhabi. The completed robot measured approximately 8 metres wide, 6.3 metres deep and 3 metres high. Its wide overall dimensions were created by four projecting wing structures arranged around a more compact central body. The complete structure had an approximate weight of 100–150 kilograms.

Although visually read as one object, the Nano Robot was not manufactured as one continuous component. Its construction was divided between a single central assembly and four separately fabricated wings. This division allowed the workshop team to preserve the scale of the final design while making the widest elements easier to transport and install.

The central structure incorporated the main robot body and all four support legs. This section was fabricated as one piece, measuring approximately 3 metres in diameter and 3 metres high. Keeping the central body and legs together maintained their dimensional relationship throughout production and installation. The four wing structures extended from this central form to create the complete 8-metre width.

Their projecting geometry gave the robot its distinctive silhouette, but also introduced practical constraints. Permanently fixing all four wings during workshop production would have created a component that was unnecessarily wide and difficult to transport. Evolution Scenic therefore treated the robot as a modular scenic system. The central section provided the principal freestanding structure, while the wings were developed as detachable assemblies.

Constructing the Central Steel Assembly

Mild-steel square tube formed the structural framework within the robot’s central body and legs. The steel structure established the main geometry, supported the shaped exterior and transferred the completed assembly onto four individual leg positions. Each leg incorporated a metal base plate at floor level. These plates provided defined contact points beneath the structure and supported the freestanding installation.

Steel flat bars were incorporated at the top of the leg structures. These created attachment points for the main fiberglass body and helped connect the visible sculptural form to the internal framework below. The combination of square-tube framing, upper flat-bar connections and lower base plates created a continuous supporting arrangement from the main body to the venue surface.

The visible bodywork was produced using shaped styrofoam with polyurea and fiberglass finishes. Styrofoam allowed the workshop team to develop the curved volume of the character around the internal metal structure. The material could be shaped into rounded transitions that would have been more difficult to achieve using flat sheet materials alone.

Polyurea and fiberglass finishes were applied to protect and strengthen the shaped scenic surfaces. The bodywork concealed the internal square-tube construction while retaining the smooth, simplified geometry required by the character design. The four legs followed the same overall fabrication language. Their visible surfaces enclosed the structural metalwork, while the circular metal base plates remained positioned beneath them.

Fabricating Four Modular Wing Assemblies & Acrylic Mirror Features

The Nano Robot incorporated four wing structures, each fabricated as an individual component. This was a deliberate transport and installation decision. Separating the wings reduced the dimensions of the principal body assembly and protected the projecting elements during handling. Each wing was constructed around a metal supporting arm. Shaped styrofoam and fiberglass scenic elements were fixed to the arm to create the circular outer profiles and internal blade-like forms visible in the completed installation.

The metal arm performed both a structural and logistical role. It supported the shaped wing components while also creating the connection through which each wing could be attached to the central body. The wings were completed using paint and applied vinyl graphics. Their black and yellow surfaces continued the visual language of the central robot body and defined the perimeter of the structure.

Acrylic elements formed the dark mirror-like panels within the robot body. These components were manufactured from 6mm acrylic sheet and completed with a vinyl-applied finish. The existing project record identifies sourcing and shaping the transparent acrylic components as one of the production challenges.

The acrylic needed to fit accurately within the surrounding shaped styrofoam while maintaining the intended visual relationship with the curved body surface. Metal strips were used to retain the acrylic panels within the styrofoam construction. This provided a physical fixing method rather than relying only on the applied finish or adhesive bond. The resulting detail combined three distinct materials: the structural metalwork behind the body, the shaped scenic surround and the finished acrylic feature panel.

Coordinating Scenic Finishes, Transportation & Installation

Paint and vinyl graphics were used across the central body and wing structures. The painted finish established the strong yellow and black colour treatment visible across the robot, while vinyl provided the branded lettering and additional surface graphics. The acrylic features also used applied vinyl to create their mirror-like visual finish. Coordinating these treatments required the visible surfaces to align across several material types, including fiberglass, acrylic and the wing components.

The finish therefore depended on more than colour matching. Graphic positions, panel boundaries, curved surfaces and component junctions all needed to work together once the four wings were installed around the central body.

The structure’s modular breakdown was established around transportation requirements. The central body and four legs were retained as one assembly. This reduced the number of major structural connections required at the venue and kept the main supporting geometry intact.

The four wings travelled as separate components.

Their metal supporting arms allowed the shaped scenic assemblies to remain complete while being handled independently from the robot body. This approach moved a substantial amount of detailed finishing into the workshop. The styrofoam shaping, fiberglass work, paint and vinyl graphics could be completed before the parts reached the venue. On site, the installation team could concentrate on positioning the central body, connecting the completed wing components and checking the relationship between all four assemblies.

A rubber mat platform was installed beneath the completed robot. This formed a protective layer between the scenic structure and the existing venue surface. The four metal base plates rested within the defined installation footprint created by the mat. The mat also visually separated the robot from the surrounding ground without introducing a raised scenic deck. Because the central body and legs formed one assembly, their position needed to be established before the four projecting wings were installed. The modular wings could then be attached around the body without requiring the full 8-metre-wide structure to be transported as one piece.

Delivering Within a One-Month Production Programme

Evolution Scenic completed the production within one month. The programme included structural metal fabrication, styrofoam shaping, polyurea and fiberglass finishing, acrylic preparation, paintwork, vinyl graphics and the manufacture of four separate wing assemblies. This work was delivered while the project was also affected by extended approval periods, resource constraints and other concurrent workshop commitments.

The completed components were transported to Zayed Sports Complex and assembled as an 8-metre-wide freestanding scenic structure. The finished Nano Robot demonstrates how a visually complex character can be resolved through a clear fabrication hierarchy: a rigid central steel structure, lightweight sculptural bodywork, separately manufactured projecting components and detailed acrylic and graphic finishes. Evolution Scenic’s delivery brought metalwork, three-dimensional scenic production, fiberglass construction, paintwork, graphics and installation together within one coordinated character build.

Creating a Culturally Detailed Scenic Environment for the Al Wathba Union Parade

The 2024 Union Parade at Al Wathba required a broad collection of temporary scenic environments and functional structures to be developed around the visual character of Emirati culture. Evolution Scenic was appointed by the event producer to provide design development, fabrication, installation, technical production and maintenance. The confirmed public-facing scope included tribal benches, custom lamp décor bases, branding walls and family tents. Evolution Scenic also completed the tent interiors, carrying the scenic language from the external environment into the internal hospitality spaces.

The original project record additionally identifies a wooden roundabout with a CNC log wall, entrance steps and ramps, technical speaker hiders, camera platforms, cable-trunk cladding, signage walls and fire-extinguisher stands. These elements performed different functions, but they needed to read as one coordinated scenic environment.

Developing the Cultural Scenic Language

The central design-development requirement was to translate the project’s cultural direction into buildable scenic elements. Tribal benches established a furniture-scale layer within the environment. Their construction needed to balance decorative form with repeated public use, movement and maintenance. Custom lamp décor bases created consistent scenic housings around practical lighting equipment. Rather than leaving the technical bass exposed, the decorative construction allowed them to form part of the wider cultural treatment.

Branding walls introduced larger vertical scenic surfaces. These walls supported visual identity, graphics and information while also defining spaces within the temporary environment. The family tents required a more complete architectural response. Evolution Scenic delivered both the tent environments and their interiors, ensuring that external presentation and internal finishes formed a connected visual experience. 

Extending Scenic Fabrication into Temporary Interiors

The family-tent interiors expanded the project beyond standalone external scenery. Interior scenic work requires closer attention to sightlines, junctions, repeated surfaces and the relationship between decorative elements and practical use. Walls, graphic panels, scenic details and technical interfaces are viewed at close range and therefore require controlled fabrication and finishing.

Evolution Scenic’s role covered the interior scenic treatment, but the available records do not identify individual furniture items, textiles, floor finishes or lighting fixtures supplied by the company. The confirmed construction materials were timber, plywood and MDF. Together, these materials provided a practical basis for framed walls, lining panels, routed decorative components and smooth surfaces for scenic finishing or graphic application. The tent interiors were therefore developed as part of the overall scenic scope rather than treated as unrelated temporary furnishing.

Coordinating Timber, Plywood and MDF Construction

The fabrication programme was centred on scenic carpentry. Timber provided framing and support for the fabricated structures. Plywood offered durable sheet construction for walls, platforms and shaped components. MDF allowed smooth decorative surfaces, routed profiles and CNC-produced detailing.

The exact build-up of each element is unavailable. It would be inaccurate to assign a particular thickness, timber grade or sheet product to individual assets without the fabrication records. Within Evolution Scenic’s normal methodology, material allocation is determined by several factors: whether an element carries load, whether it is handled repeatedly, whether it requires CNC machining, how it will be transported and what surface finish is needed. This approach allows different scenic elements to be produced through one coordinated workflow while retaining construction appropriate to their individual use.

Fabricating the Wooden Roundabout and CNC Log Wall

The wooden roundabout formed one of the project’s principal functional scenic features, combining a recognisable architectural form with practical movement and access requirements. Its construction incorporated a CNC-produced log wall, allowing the visible timber profiles to be manufactured with a high level of dimensional consistency. CNC production supported repeatable cutting across the individual components, helping the assembled wall maintain a controlled rhythm and uniform appearance. This method also allowed the scenic treatment to be developed as an integral part of the structure rather than applied as a separate decorative finish.

The roundabout needed to operate as more than a purely visual feature within the wider environment. Its position and form had to work with the surrounding circulation routes so that the scenic treatment did not interfere with movement through the space. This required coordination between the physical layout, fabricated timber elements and the practical access requirements of the installation. The completed feature therefore combined CNC scenic fabrication with functional spatial planning, allowing the roundabout to contribute both visually and operationally to the overall environment.

Integrating Ceremonial Steps and Ramps

Custom entrance steps and ramps were produced for His Highness’s access route. These structures required a different design approach from purely decorative scenery. Their geometry needed to support safe movement while the visible construction remained consistent with the wider environment. Ramp gradients, anti-slip finishes and edge protection formed part of the confirmed HSSE controls. Structural review was also required to verify the access elements before use.

Transitions between the installed ramps, steps and surrounding levels needed to remain controlled. Scenic surfaces, trims or decorative details could not create projections, uneven edges or obstructions. This is an important aspect of scenic fabrication for formal environments: the finished structure must appear visually resolved while continuing to perform as safe temporary access infrastructure.

Incorporating Safety Features into the Scenic Scope

Fire-extinguisher stands and signage walls were developed as visible, purpose-made parts of the wider scenic environment rather than added as unrelated site equipment. Emergency equipment needed to remain clearly identifiable, immediately accessible and unobstructed throughout the installation. The fabricated extinguisher stands therefore provided organised mounting locations while keeping the equipment visible and easy to reach. This allowed essential safety provisions to sit within the finished environment without compromising their operational function.

Fire-rated materials were applied where required, while electrical inspection formed part of the technical compliance process. These measures ensured that the scenic scope considered both the visible finish and the practical requirements associated with temporary installation safety. Signage walls were also incorporated to support safety information, wayfinding and wider operational communication. Their fabrication provided stable, clearly positioned surfaces for graphics while maintaining consistency with the surrounding scenic treatment.

By integrating these requirements during design development, the project avoided treating safety equipment and compliance provisions as additions introduced after the main scenery had been completed. The stands, signage walls and related technical measures were coordinated alongside the wider scenic construction so they could be accommodated within the overall layout. This approach helped maintain both visual consistency and clear operational access across the environment. The result was a more considered installation in which safety, communication and scenic fabrication were developed as part of the same overall scope.

Delivering the Project through Restricted Access

Restricted access was the principal confirmed installation challenge. The two-month programme required design development, fabrication and site activity to remain closely coordinated. Information needed to move quickly from technical development into workshop production, while finished assets had to be delivered in sequences compatible with the available access.

The different scenic systems could not all be installed at the same stage. Larger walls, platforms, ramps, tents and the wooden roundabout needed to establish the principal physical layout. Decorative assets, graphics, equipment hiders and technical cladding could then be aligned around those larger structures. Restricted access also increased the importance of protecting completed work. Once installed, scenic surfaces needed to remain clear of subsequent technical activity and material movement.

Delivering Cultural Scenery as Functional Infrastructure

The Al Wathba Union Parade project demonstrates the breadth of modern scenic fabrication. The completed scope included culturally detailed furniture, decorative technical housings, temporary tent interiors, branding walls, CNC-produced scenic construction, ceremonial access structures, camera platforms, speaker hiders, cable cladding, signage and fire-safety provisions.

Each element needed to fulfil its own practical purpose while remaining visually connected to the wider environment. Evolution Scenic coordinated the design development, fabrication, installation, technical production and maintenance within a two-month delivery programme and under restricted-access conditions. The result was not simply a collection of themed decorative assets. It was an integrated scenic environment in which cultural character, technical infrastructure, safe access and operational support were developed as one physical system.

Project Overview and Scenic Delivery

The Youth Tolerance Rally took place in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Evolution Scenic worked for the event producer to create an integrated physical environment for the event, providing creative design, design development, scenic fabrication, graphics production, installation, site support and dismantling.

The principal environment centred on a custom main stage incorporating a giant screen and seamless branded backdrop. Evolution Scenic supplied both the stage deck and giant screen, then developed the surrounding scenery so that the technical presentation infrastructure and visible scenic architecture operated as one coordinated system.

Supporting elements included a bespoke lectern, performance platforms, scenic panels, freestanding signage, interactive team-building props and a large-format fabric banner. The project moved from an initial two-day conceptualisation period into a five-day fabrication-and-installation programme.

Developing the Scenic Concept

The initial creative direction was established within just two days. During this period, Evolution Scenic developed a visual language that could be consistently applied across the different physical elements of the event.

The main stage, screen surround, backdrop, lectern, signage, platforms, graphics, banner and interactive pieces all needed to relate visually and technically to one another. Conceptual development therefore progressed alongside practical fabrication considerations. The geometry surrounding the giant screen needed to correspond with the stage deck and technical layout, while graphic areas had to match the dimensions and forms of the fabricated scenic panels. The bespoke lectern was also developed to function within the stage environment while repeating the same overall design language.

Integrating the Stage, Screen and Branded Backdrop

The main stage formed the foundation of the scenic environment. Evolution Scenic supplied the stage deck and giant screen before fabricating the scenery surrounding them. Rather than treating the screen as an independent technical element positioned behind the stage, the surrounding scenic architecture was developed to visually integrate it into the overall presentation environment. Physical scenic surfaces extended around the display, creating continuity between digital content, printed imagery and the branded backdrop.

The backdrop itself was developed to appear as one continuous scenic composition. Panel alignment, graphic registration, edge treatment and scenic junctions were carefully coordinated to maintain a seamless appearance once installed.

Bespoke Scenic Fabrication and Materials

Evolution Scenic fabricated a range of custom elements including the bespoke lectern, performance platforms, scenic structures, freestanding signage and interactive team-building pieces. he confirmed construction palette included timber, plywood, MDF, steel framing, fabric and printed vinyl. These materials enabled different types of scenic structures and finishes to be produced through a coordinated workshop process. Plywood and MDF provided practical construction and finishing surfaces, while steel framing was also incorporated within the project.

Fabric and printed vinyl provided the visual treatment required for large branded areas, allowing graphics, colour and imagery to be integrated directly with the fabricated scenery. The various material systems had to work together while remaining compatible with the stage deck, giant screen and surrounding scenic architecture.

Graphics and Large-Format Fabric Banner

Graphics production formed an important part of Evolution Scenic's scope and was integrated across the backdrop, scenic panels, bespoke lectern and freestanding signage. Graphics were treated as part of the scenic construction rather than simply as a decorative layer added after fabrication. Panel dimensions, joins, returns, edges and visible margins all influenced how the artwork would appear after installation.

A large-format fabric banner was also developed as one of the prominent supporting visual elements. Evolution Scenic was responsible for its design and for coordinating it with the wider scenic environment. The specialist printing and stitching of the banner were completed externally, while Evolution Scenic maintained responsibility for integrating its design language with the stage, graphics and surrounding scenery.

Five-Day Fabrication, Installation and Site Support

Following the two-day conceptualisation period, fabrication and installation progressed within a compressed five-day programme. The stage deck and giant screen established the principal technical arrangement. The scenic backdrop, screen surround, platforms and supporting structures were then positioned and aligned around these elements. The bespoke lectern, signs, graphic panels and interactive pieces completed the wider environment.

Because of the short delivery period, controlled workshop fabrication and coordination were essential. Accurate preparation reduced the requirement for extensive site modifications and protected the time available for final alignment, technical preparation and rehearsal. Evolution Scenic remained on site during rehearsals and the operational period, providing continuity where the scenery interfaced with the staging, giant screen, performance structures and interactive elements. Following the event, the company also completed the dismantling of the temporary environment.

Delivering a Coordinated Scenic System

The Youth Tolerance Rally demonstrates the value of coordinating staging, screens, fabrication and graphics through one scenic delivery process. Evolution Scenic supplied the stage deck and giant screen while simultaneously developing the structures that visually integrated these technical elements into the event environment.

The seamless branded backdrop, bespoke lectern, performance platforms, signs, graphic panels, interactive pieces and supporting scenery were developed within a consistent production language. Engineering, fire-safety and HSSE considerations also formed part of the temporary scenic delivery methodology, with attention given to structural stability, secure assembly, safe interfaces and compatibility with surrounding technical equipment.

From two days of conceptual development through five days of fabrication and installation, followed by rehearsal support, event operation and dismantling, the project provides a strong example of rapid scenic fabrication, integrated stage construction and coordinated temporary-environment delivery in Abu Dhabi.