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 Four Glazed Meeting Rooms

Four 4m × 4m meeting rooms were incorporated into the stand to provide enclosed spaces for meetings and presentations within the wider exhibition environment. Each room featured glass walls and double glass doors, maintaining a strong visual connection with the surrounding stand while still creating a clearly defined internal zone. The photographs show the glazed rooms framed by substantial white scenic structures, with coloured interiors introducing contrast within the overall architectural treatment. Integrated presentation screens were also incorporated into the rooms as part of the functional setup.

The glazing created transparency across the meeting areas, while the fabricated scenic surrounds established the physical boundaries and architectural presence of each room. This combination provided a balance between privacy and openness that is particularly effective within a busy exhibition setting. Custom tables and integrated AV were included within the meeting rooms, allowing the spaces to support both discussion and presentation requirements. Together, the glazing, scenic framing, furniture and technical integration formed four coordinated meeting environments within the larger stand.

A Suspended Architectural Feature

One of the strongest visual elements within the completed stand was the large rectangular overhead feature finished in HPE green. Positioned above the main counter, the structure created a strong horizontal architectural line and gave the stand a more defined spatial identity. Its colour reinforced the HPE brand language without relying solely on applied graphics or signage. Integrated lighting added further definition to the feature and helped strengthen its presence within the wider exhibition environment.

The project source confirms that Evolution Scenic fabricated overhead structures with integrated lighting as part of the scenic scope. The visible construction appears to use painted scenic board or MDF, although the exact material specification is not confirmed in the supplied information. The suspension engineering, fixing details and structural support system are also not documented and have therefore not been assumed. What is confirmed is the role of the overhead element as a coordinated combination of scenic fabrication, branding and integrated lighting within the completed stand.

Custom Counters And Scenic Details

The counters were fabricated as bespoke elements within the exhibition environment, allowing practical functions to be integrated directly into the wider scenic design. Photographs show clean white counter faces carrying HPE branding, with each unit visually connected to the surrounding wall architecture rather than appearing as standalone furniture. This helped maintain a consistent visual language across the space while giving the counters a clear operational purpose. Their proportions, finishes and positioning contributed to the overall architectural composition of the stand.

Bespoke overhead structures were also developed as part of the scenic treatment, with integrated lighting incorporated into the fabricated elements. This approach allowed functional lighting to sit within the architectural design rather than being treated as a separate technical layer. The relationship between counters, wall structures and overhead elements helped create a more coordinated and visually complete environment. Together, these details demonstrate how custom scenic fabrication can combine branding, furniture, lighting and architectural features within a single exhibition system.

Combining Scenic Construction With Glazing

The meeting-room structures required a carefully controlled interface between solid scenic construction and transparent glazing, ensuring that both elements worked together as a single architectural system. White fabricated frames establish the visual boundaries and structural definition of each meeting space, while the transparent glass walls maintain openness and visibility across the exhibition floor. This allows the coloured interiors, furniture and presentation environments within the rooms to remain visually connected to the surrounding stand while still providing clearly defined spaces for meetings and discussions. Clear double glass doors provide practical access to each room without interrupting the clean architectural appearance or introducing unnecessary visual barriers.

The completed meeting rooms demonstrate how scenic fabrication can support exhibition architecture far beyond conventional wall construction. The fabricated elements form the framework through which glazing, integrated lighting, graphics and AV components are coordinated, allowing multiple materials and technical systems to function as one cohesive environment. Careful alignment between the painted scenic frames and glass surfaces creates a precise, refined finish while maintaining the temporary and modular requirements of an exhibition installation. Through this integration, the meeting rooms become an important architectural feature of the stand, combining functionality, transparency and scenic craftsmanship within the wider HPE exhibition environment.

Finishing With Graphics And Lighting

The scenic build was completed through a carefully coordinated combination of painted surfaces, vinyl graphics and integrated lighting, ensuring that the stand maintained a consistent visual identity throughout the exhibition space. Wall and feature surfaces were finished with precisely applied vinyl graphics, introducing HPE branding without disrupting the clean architectural character of the scenic construction. Rather than functioning as separate decorative elements, the graphics were incorporated directly onto the completed walls, counters and feature surfaces. This approach allowed the branding to become an integral part of the overall environment while maintaining the clarity and precision of the fabricated forms.

The supplied photographs demonstrate how the branded elements sit naturally within the larger scenic architecture rather than replacing or dominating it. HPE graphics are applied across selected wall and counter surfaces, while the painted scenic forms establish the overall spatial composition, circulation and visual structure of the stand. Integrated lighting within the bespoke counters and overhead architectural elements further defines these fabricated forms, highlighting key features and adding depth to the finished environment. Together, the painted finishes, graphics and lighting create a cohesive exhibition space in which branding, scenic fabrication and architectural detailing work as a unified design.

Completing The Stand At Dubai World Trade Centre

Once the main fabricated structures, glazed meeting rooms and overhead architectural elements were assembled, the final exhibition finishes brought the different areas of the stand together as one cohesive environment. Carpet was installed throughout the exhibition footprint, providing a consistent foundation across the visitor, display and meeting areas, while precisely applied vinyl graphics completed the branded wall surfaces. These finishing elements were carefully coordinated with the scenic construction, lighting and architectural details to maintain a clean and refined appearance throughout the installation. The result was a visually unified stand in which the structural, decorative and branded components worked seamlessly together.

The completed environment presents a considered combination of crisp white painted scenic architecture, contrasting coloured meeting-room interiors, transparent glazing, integrated lighting and carefully positioned branded surfaces. Each material and finish contributes to the overall visual language of the stand while supporting the functional requirements of a busy technology exhibition. The transparency of the glazed spaces maintains visual connectivity across the stand, while lighting and graphics provide definition and reinforce the HPE identity. The finished photographs demonstrate how these individual components come together across the exhibition footprint to create a consistent, polished and professionally executed environment.

A Coordinated Scenic Fabrication Package

The completed HPE GITEX stand demonstrates the value of approaching exhibition environments as fully integrated scenic builds, where every element contributes to a unified visitor experience. Across the substantial 25m × 12m footprint, the project combined painted MDF scenic construction, bespoke counters, glazed meeting rooms, overhead architectural features, integrated lighting, vinyl graphics, AV systems and carpet finishes. Each component needed to work seamlessly with the next, creating a professional and visually consistent environment that reflected HPE’s technology-focused presence at GITEX. Careful coordination between fabrication, finishing and technical integration was essential to achieving the required level of precision throughout the stand.

Evolution Scenic’s role extended across the physical elements that defined the space, enabling the various scenic, architectural and finishing components to be fabricated and delivered as one coherent installation. The stand demanded the accuracy and attention to detail associated with permanent architectural interiors while maintaining the flexibility, efficiency and temporary nature required for a custom exhibition build. From the larger structural features to the detailed counters, graphics and integrated lighting, every element was developed to support both the visual identity and practical requirements of the space. The finished result was a refined exhibition environment that balanced technical precision, functionality and high-quality scenic craftsmanship.

Building The LIV Golf Riyadh Scenic Environment

LIV Golf Riyadh took place at Riyadh Golf Club from 6 to 8 February 2025. The project required a series of temporary scenic structures designed to establish a consistent physical identity across the entrance, wayfinding areas and interactive installations, while supporting the scale and energy of the wider event environment.

Evolution Scenic developed the detailed scenic package from a client-supplied concept, translating the creative direction into a coordinated fabrication and installation scope. The confirmed works included the main entrance cladding, dimensional logos, integrated lightboxes, striped floor treatment, a two-metre rotating golf-ball sculpture and its circular platform, a six-metre Range sign, an illuminated IBC maze and the complete nineteenth-hole putting installation.

Rather than relying on a single scenic feature, the environment used several different forms of construction and fabrication. The main entrance operated as a large-scale piece of temporary architecture, combining structural framing, cladding, illuminated branding and graphic finishes. The golf ball functioned as a large-format automated scenic prop, while the Range tower introduced height and illuminated wayfinding within the wider site.

The IBC maze used repeated modular containers to create an immersive walkthrough environment, with integrated lighting transforming the units into illuminated scenic walls. Within the maze, the putting installation added an interactive component that combined scenic fabrication, artificial-grass surfaces, dimensional branding and integrated lighting.

Each element required a different combination of materials, fabrication techniques and installation methods, but all were coordinated through the same graphic, lighting and finishing language. This allowed the separate structures to read as one connected scenic environment across Riyadh Golf Club.

Transforming A Scaffold Into A Scenic Entrance

The entrance began with a supplied scaffolding structure, which provided the primary temporary support but needed to be fully concealed within the finished scenic design. Evolution Scenic installed a secondary framework using aluminium rectangular tube, creating the required planes for the scenic facade while establishing secure fixing positions for the ACP panels, dimensional logos, lightboxes and other visible details. This approach allowed the underlying scaffold geometry to be transformed into a clean and controlled architectural entrance.

The entrance needed to read as a deliberate architectural elevation rather than as cladding applied to a temporary frame. Careful panel setting-out ensured the ACP surfaces aligned around the two entrance openings and provided a consistent background for the illuminated line details and large-scale branding. Dimensional LIV Golf lettering occupied the upper section of the facade, with the Riyadh identification positioned below, while additional logos and illuminated graphic elements were integrated across the front elevation and around the entrance openings.

The scenic treatment continued beyond the vertical entrance structure and onto the approach surface. A striped floor treatment was matched to the client’s specified Pantone colours, extending the visual identity across the complete arrival experience. By combining the scaffold support, aluminium secondary framing, ACP cladding, dimensional branding and integrated lighting, Evolution Scenic created a coordinated temporary architectural installation in which the structural and decorative elements worked together as a single finished environment.

Fabricating And Engineering The Rotating Golf-Ball Sculpture

A two-metre branded golf ball formed the principal sculptural feature in front of the entrance. The sphere was fabricated from CNC-machined foam, allowing the overall shape and repeated dimple pattern to be produced with consistent geometry across the large surface. Following machining, the foam form received a fibreglass coating, creating the finished outer shell and preparing it for the final scenic finish and applied LIV Golf branding.

The golf ball was designed as a moving scenic feature rather than a static prop. Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated the rotation mechanism, developing the sculpture, central shaft, mounting arrangement and supporting structure as connected components. The system needed to support the completed sphere while maintaining a controlled rotational axis, with the visible mounting elements kept visually secondary to the sculptural form.

The completed golf ball was mounted vertically within a custom circular platform positioned in front of the entrance. Artificial grass, painted finishes and dimensional branding helped integrate the base into the wider golf-themed environment while defining the moving feature within the arrival area. The finished installation brought together CNC fabrication, fibreglass finishing, scenic engineering and controlled movement to create a prominent kinetic focal point for the entrance.

Turning IBC Units Into Scenic Architecture

The IBC maze used 1,000-litre intermediate bulk container units as its main construction module.

Rather than concealing the industrial containers, the installation used their visible grid frames and translucent tanks as part of the scenic appearance.

The units were arranged into long walls, internal routes and stacked tower forms. Their repeated size gave the installation a consistent construction rhythm and allowed larger masses to be created from a standard component.

This approach transformed individual storage containers into a temporary architectural system.

The maze was not dependent on applied graphics alone. Its primary visual effect came from the relationship between the modular units, their stacking arrangement and the light transmitted through their translucent surfaces.

Evolution Scenic supplied the custom LED system used across the maze. Resolume control enabled colour changes and programmed effects to operate across the complete installation.

Lighting therefore changed the visual reading of the same physical structure without requiring the container arrangement itself to move.

During daylight, the maze remained visibly constructed from IBC units. At night, the illuminated tanks formed connected fields of colour, turning the industrial components into scenic lightboxes.

Integrating The Nineteenth-Hole Putting Feature

The interactive putting installation was positioned within the IBC environment as a dedicated playable feature within the wider scenic experience. Its main scenic form consisted of a circular illuminated portal reached by an artificial-grass ramp. Raised side structures defined the playing route and helped guide participants towards the target, while layered coloured finishes and integrated lighting gave the piece a strong visual identity that connected with the surrounding illuminated maze.

A dimensional nineteenth-hole sign occupied the top of the portal, with a smaller golf-ball detail incorporated into the centre of the sign. The combination of dimensional branding, lighting and shaped scenic construction helped establish the feature as a focal point while maintaining a clear connection to the golf theme.

The artificial-grass playing surface continued directly through the circular opening, creating a strong relationship between the scenic form and the putting activity itself. This meant the structure could not be developed purely as a decorative backdrop. Its geometry had to preserve a practical and visually clear route towards the target while keeping the portal, side walls, lighting details and dimensional signage balanced as one complete composition.

Together, the fabricated portal, illuminated side details, artificial-grass surface and dimensional signage formed a single integrated interactive installation, combining scenic fabrication with participant engagement inside the wider LIV Golf Riyadh environment.

Fabricating The Six-Metre Range Feature

The Range sign provided a separate vertical marker within the wider site, helping define the area through a combination of height, dimensional branding and integrated illumination.

Its primary support was a six-metre-high scaffold tower. Evolution Scenic added the scenic branding and fully DMX-controlled lightbox, creating a high-level illuminated feature that could remain visually prominent and legible after dark. The sign used dimensional lettering rather than relying only on a printed banner, giving the installation greater depth and allowing the illuminated letterforms to stand out more clearly within the night-time environment.

As with the main entrance, the structural support and scenic finish needed to operate as a coordinated assembly. Fixing positions, access for lighting installation, cable routing and final sign alignment all depended on the geometry of the scaffold tower. The six-metre height also introduced additional installation considerations, making wind loading, secure fixing and scaffold certification important parts of the overall delivery.

The completed feature combined temporary scaffold engineering with dimensional scenic fabrication and controlled lighting, creating a strong vertical landmark that complemented the wider LIV Golf Riyadh visual environment.

Coordinating Materials And Custom Scenic Fabrication

The project used a broad material palette selected to suit the structural, visual and interactive requirements of each element. Steel and aluminium provided framing and secondary support, while MDF, plywood and painted timber were used for shaped scenic components, platforms and custom-built features. ACP formed the clean external surfaces of the main entrance, while acrylic and polycarbonate supported illuminated details and light-diffusing elements.

CNC-machined foam and fibreglass were used for the two-metre rotating golf-ball sculpture, while vinyl graphics, printed panels and artificial grass helped carry the LIV Golf visual identity across the site. Evolution Scenic also fabricated a freestanding illuminated logo using a steel-framed structure with an acrylic lightbox, along with custom plywood truss-base covers finished with paint and printed fabric banners.

The VIP seating area was designed and fabricated with a custom raised platform, carpet finish, coordinated seating and a perimeter handrail. Within the IBC maze, the 1,000-litre units provided both modular structure and illuminated scenic surfaces, with their steel cages and translucent tanks becoming part of the final visual treatment.

Delivering A Complete Outdoor Scenic Environment

The confirmed programme covered approximately one month of fabrication and installation. The outdoor setting required the project to account for weather exposure, wind loading and certified scaffold systems while coordinating multiple scenic structures across Riyadh Golf Club.

At the entrance, the supplied scaffold provided the primary support before Evolution Scenic installed the aluminium secondary frame, ACP cladding, dimensional branding, lightboxes and illuminated details. The rotating golf-ball feature required the positioning of its circular platform, mechanical system and two-metre sculpture, while the six-metre Range structure combined scaffold support, dimensional branding and DMX-controlled illumination.

The IBC maze was assembled from repeated 1,000-litre units before the custom LED system was installed and connected through Resolume control. The nineteenth-hole putting feature, freestanding illuminated logo, VIP seating platform and custom truss-base covers were also installed as part of the wider scenic environment.

Wind loading, weather protection and scaffold certification were confirmed considerations, particularly for the entrance facade, Range tower, freestanding lightbox, stacked IBC units and rotating golf-ball sculpture. Following the tournament, the complete temporary scenic installation was dismantled.

The finished environment brought together temporary architecture, sculptural fabrication, mechanical movement, illuminated branding and interactive construction. From the ACP-clad entrance and rotating golf ball to the IBC maze, putting feature, VIP seating area and supporting branded elements, the project demonstrated how multiple scenic disciplines could be coordinated into one unified LIV Golf Riyadh experience.