Building Santa’s Sustainable House at Expo City Dubai

Santa’s Sustainable House was created for Winter City 2023 at Expo City Dubai as a complete festive environment built around sustainable materials and immersive scenic construction. The original attraction combined Christmas storytelling with sustainability education inside a visually detailed interactive house.

Evolution Scenic designed, fabricated and installed the entire freestanding temporary structure.

The delivery extended beyond the visible front elevation. It included the primary house construction, multiple roof profiles, artificial-snow finishes, entrance architecture, windows, doors, fencing, access ramps, interior walls and ceilings, a fireplace environment, decorative timber beams, custom furniture, storage joinery, workshop tables, Christmas trees, wrapped presents, detailed props, flooring, lighting and electrical systems.

The result needed to feel like one coherent house, even though it was constructed as a temporary modular scenic installation.

Fabricating the Festive Exterior

The external façade combined a varied roofline with shaped gables, painted wall sections, framed openings and strong red and green detailing. Artificial-snow treatments were applied across the roof profiles to create the winter appearance. The snow finish also visually connected roof sections that differed in height and shape.

The entrance was developed as a principal scenic feature. Candy-cane columns framed the doorway, while the Santa’s Sustainable House sign established a clear focal point above the opening. Windows and doors were treated as architectural components within the façade rather than simply applied graphics. Contrasting surrounds, painted trims and adjacent decorative details gave the elevation additional depth.

Picket fencing enclosed the exterior areas and helped define the footprint of the attraction. Access ramps were incorporated into the installation, connecting the surrounding area to the raised temporary house.

The exterior needed to work at two scales. From a distance, the roof silhouette, entrance sign and colour palette established the identity of the building. At closer range, the layered trims, artificial snow, windows, doors, candy-cane columns and scenic decorations provided the detail expected from an immersive attraction.

Using Materials as Part of the Visual Language

The material palette included timber-based construction, OSB-style panels, painted sheet materials and applied scenic finishes. The OSB-style surfaces were not treated only as concealed structural material. Their visible texture supported the workshop character and contributed to the sustainability-led appearance of the interior.

This allowed the material choice to become part of the storytelling. Areas that required a cleaner architectural finish received painted surfaces, while selected textured panels retained a more practical fabricated appearance. Timber-based construction also provided flexibility across the complete scope. Similar workshop methods could be used for structural modules, shaped roof components, façade profiles, shelves, worktables, storage units and other custom joinery.

The project incorporated reused or recycled materials. Exact material percentages and product specifications have not been supplied, so the case study does not assign recycled content to specific components. Energy-efficient LED lighting formed the second confirmed sustainability measure. The lighting was integrated into the temporary house to support both the exterior identity and the internal scenic environment.

Creating a Complete Interior Workshop

The interior was constructed as a sequence of detailed scenic settings. Walls and ceilings enclosed the environment, while exposed timber-style beams and OSB-style surfaces established the architectural character. Painted areas, red window treatments and carefully positioned decorative elements introduced contrast across the rooms.

One of the principal spaces resembled a working office or workshop. A substantial timber worktable occupied the centre of the setting, supported by storage units, shelves, display surfaces and small scenic props. The furniture and joinery were proportioned to the room and positioned as part of the complete visual composition.

Wall-mounted materials, shelving and decorative objects created depth around the central table. Rather than leaving large areas of undecorated wall, the interior used multiple fabricated and dressed surfaces to create the appearance of an active working environment.

Evolution Furniture supported the furniture package, while Evolution Prop Shop contributed to the decorative content and detailed dressing. These specialist elements were coordinated with the scenic build rather than added without reference to the architecture. Shelves, counters and tables were positioned according to the room layout, sightlines and circulation requirements.

Constructing the Fireplace Setting

A separate interior area was organised around a brick-effect feature wall and decorative fireplace.

The brick-effect scenic treatment established a warmer domestic setting distinct from the workshop-style surfaces elsewhere in the house.

The fireplace surround provided the main fabricated focal point. Hanging stockings, framed details, wrapped presents and a decorated Christmas tree completed the setting. The surrounding window, curtain treatments, furniture and prop placement created multiple layers within the room. This ensured the area remained visually complete when viewed from different directions rather than functioning only as a front-facing photographic backdrop.

The use of scenic construction, furniture and props as one coordinated system was essential to the finished result. The fireplace wall provided the architectural context. The custom and supplied furniture established the usable room arrangement. The trees, stockings, presents and detailed props then developed the festive narrative within that structure.

Integrating Lighting and Electrical Systems

Evolution Technical supported the lighting and electrical components of the house. Energy-efficient LED lighting was used as part of the sustainability approach. The fixtures helped establish the warmth of the interior spaces and supported the visibility of the exterior sign, façade details and decorative features.

The lighting needed to work with the selected scenic finishes. Warm internal illumination enhanced the timber and OSB-style surfaces, while the Christmas trees, fireplace environment and decorated shelving required more focused lighting to retain their detail.

Because the house was assembled from modular wall and ceiling sections, electrical routes had to remain compatible with the temporary construction. Services needed to pass through or alongside the fabricated architecture without interrupting visible surfaces.

The exact lighting fixture schedule and electrical control arrangement have not been provided. The confirmed scope is limited to Evolution Scenic’s supply of the lighting and electrical systems with support from Evolution Technical.

Engineering for Temporary Public Use

Structural stability and fire-rated materials were confirmed technical requirements. The house needed to remain stable as a freestanding temporary structure throughout its operating period. The wall modules, roof sections, entrance features and internal construction therefore had to work as one connected scenic assembly.

The external ramps and fencing were also part of the installed environment. Their connections and positioning needed to be coordinated with the house footprint rather than treated as unrelated temporary accessories. Fire-rated materials formed part of the project requirements. The supplied information does not identify the individual material classifications or certification documents, and these have not been inferred.

Temporary environments intended for interactive use normally require careful control of structural connections, projecting details, decorative fixings, electrical components and access routes. These considerations reflect Evolution Scenic’s standard methodology. Only structural stability and the requirement for fire-rated materials are presented as confirmed project facts.

A Complete Sustainable Scenic Environment

Santa’s Sustainable House demonstrated how a temporary attraction could combine structural scenic construction with detailed interior production. The exterior established a complete festive building through its roof profiles, artificial snow, shaped gables, entrance sign, candy-cane columns, windows, doors, fencing and ramps.

The interior extended the environment through scenic walls, ceilings, exposed beams, custom joinery, a brick-effect fireplace setting, furniture, trees, presents and workshop props. Reused or recycled materials and energy-efficient LED lighting supported the sustainable brief. Modular workshop construction supported the one-week programme and the later dismantling of the temporary house.

The completed project depended on more than decorative finishing. It required the coordination of temporary architecture, structural stability, scenic fabrication, interior construction, technical systems, furniture and prop dressing. That integrated approach allowed Evolution Scenic to deliver Santa’s Sustainable House as a complete immersive environment at Expo City Dubai.

Building a Complete Exhibition Interior for the Slovenia Pavilion

In 2023, Evolution Scenic developed and delivered a complete exhibition fitout for the Slovenia Pavilion at Expo City Dubai. The project transformed the existing interior into a sequence of interpretive and gallery environments designed to accommodate wall graphics, cultural objects, framed artworks and three-dimensional displays.

Rather than relying on a single repeated display system, the fitout combined several forms of scenic and interior construction. Curved black walls carried the principal timeline and interpretive content. White gallery partitions created a contrasting setting for artworks and textile displays. Black plinths and glazed cases provided protected presentation areas for objects and artefacts.

Custom ceiling elements, lighting, flooring, skirting and planting connected these components into one coherent environment. Evolution Scenic developed the exhibition design and delivered the principal scenic construction within a confirmed 20-day programme.

The finished installation was intended to remain inside the Slovenia Pavilion for an extended period. This required a balance between workshop-efficient scenic fabrication and the durability, alignment and finish quality associated with a longer-term exhibition interior.

Developing the Exhibition Layout

The interior was organised through a deliberate contrast between dark interpretive spaces and white gallery environments. The curved black timeline walls created broad surfaces for photographic material, text and historical content. Their geometry guided movement through the exhibition while avoiding the visual rigidity of a conventional sequence of straight display panels.

The black walls also provided a controlled background for the exhibited objects. Dark plinths and display bases continued the wall language across the floor, creating visual continuity between the interpretive graphics and the three-dimensional displays. The white gallery areas used a different spatial character. Workshop-built partitions formed restrained, neutral surfaces for framed artworks, masks, textile pieces and other wall-mounted exhibits. The pale gallery walls allowed the material, colour and form of the displayed works to remain visually prominent.

The transition between the two zones was resolved through curved entrance and feature-wall elements, consistent flooring and coordinated ceiling treatment. Decorative planting was integrated at selected points within the layout, introducing softer natural forms between the constructed gallery surfaces.

Fabricating the Curved Timeline Walls

The curved black walls were produced as timber-framed scenic structures clad in MDF. The timber framework established the required radius and provided support for the finished wall faces. MDF was then applied to create a smooth and continuous surface capable of receiving paint, printed wallpaper and vinyl graphic material.

Curved walls introduce a different set of fabrication considerations from conventional flat partitions. The framework must maintain a consistent radius across its full length. Sheet materials need to follow that geometry without creating visible faceting, abrupt joints or changes in surface level.

The completed faces also need to remain suitable for graphic application. Any variation in curvature, joint alignment or surface preparation can become visible once large-format printed imagery and horizontal text lines are installed. Evolution Scenic’s construction therefore needed to provide both the physical geometry of the wall and the accurate finishing surface required by the outsourced graphics supplier. The black finish unified the wall assemblies and allowed the graphics, objects and display lighting to stand forward visually.

Producing Modular Gallery Partitions

The white exhibition walls and partitions were fabricated as modular workshop-built sections. Workshop fabrication allowed the wall components to be assembled, checked and finished before delivery to Expo City Dubai. It also reduced the amount of direct construction required inside the completed pavilion. Each partition needed to perform several functions.

The walls defined the gallery layout, supported framed works and created the finished background visible around every exhibit. They also needed to coordinate with skirting, flooring, ceiling elements, lighting positions and adjoining wall sections. Plywood and timber framing provided internal support where required, while MDF and painted surfaces formed the visible faces. Gypsum wall construction was also incorporated within the wider interior package.

Once installed, the modular sections were aligned and joined so that they read as continuous architectural walls rather than temporary panels. Joint treatment, edge alignment and consistent paintwork were particularly important in the white gallery areas because shadows and surface variations are more visible against light finishes. The result was a clean exhibition setting capable of supporting different artwork formats without visually competing with the displayed material.

Manufacturing Display Plinths and Case Bases

Three-dimensional objects were presented using custom black plinths and glazed display cases. Evolution Scenic fabricated the plinths and display bases. The glazed cases themselves were supplied by another contractor. This division of responsibility required accurate coordination between separate packages. The scenic bases needed to match the dimensions and support requirements of the glass enclosures. Their finished surfaces also needed to align cleanly with the case edges so that the separate components appeared as one complete display unit.

MDF, plywood, timber framing and selected metal components provided the body and internal support of the plinths. Black laminate and painted finishes created a consistent external appearance across the exhibition. The dark bases visually grounded the displays while allowing the glass cases and illuminated objects to remain the main focus.

The fitout also included wall-mounted artefact shelves and supports for framed artworks. These elements required suitable internal backing and accurate setting-out so that the final exhibits could be positioned consistently across the modular walls. Acrylic and glass were incorporated where required within the wider display package, although the available information does not identify the exact application of every transparent component.

Integrating Graphics Without Claiming Their Manufacture

Printed wallpaper, timeline imagery, interpretive text and vinyl graphics formed a major part of the exhibition’s visible surface treatment. The graphic production and installation package was carried out by an outsourced specialist supplier rather than Evolution Scenic. Evolution Scenic’s role was to create the physical scenic surfaces and spatial framework into which those graphics were incorporated.

This distinction is important because exhibition graphics depend heavily on the quality of the underlying construction. Large printed panels and wallpapers require walls that are smooth, accurately aligned and free from abrupt surface changes. Curved graphics require especially careful dimensional control because text, image grids and horizontal lines can reveal inconsistencies in the wall radius.

By producing stable timber-framed and MDF-clad walls, Evolution Scenic established the physical base required for the final graphic installation. The completed environment therefore depended on coordination between scenic fabrication and specialist graphic production without incorrectly attributing the outsourced graphics to Evolution Scenic.

Constructing the Ceiling and Lighting Environment

The exhibition fitout extended above the wall and display systems through custom suspended and perimeter ceiling structures. These elements helped define the exhibition spatially and provided a coordinated framework for the lighting. Evolution Scenic supplied the ceiling lighting. Fixture positions were developed in relation to the timeline walls, gallery partitions, display cases and circulation areas.

Lighting needed to perform more than a general illumination function. The black interpretive zones required focused light on objects, cases and graphic content. The white gallery areas required even presentation of framed works without allowing the surrounding architecture to become visually dominant. The ceiling treatment helped connect these requirements by creating a consistent overhead structure across the different exhibition areas.

The project also included battery-operated display lights supported by a 48-hour backup system. This allowed exhibit lighting to remain operational while limiting the need for visually intrusive power connections around the glazed cases. The integration of lighting into the scenic and ceiling construction helped the finished exhibition read as one designed environment rather than a collection of independently lit objects.

Delivering the Fitout Within Twenty Days

The confirmed project programme was 20 days. The supplied information does not identify how the period was divided between workshop fabrication and site installation. It should therefore be described as the overall project programme rather than separate confirmed fabrication and installation durations.

Workshop production allowed the modular wall sections, curved structures, plinths, bases, shelves, artwork supports and ceiling elements to be prepared before delivery. On site, installation needed to follow a coordinated sequence. The principal walls established the spatial layout. The modular gallery sections were aligned and joined. Display bases were positioned to receive the glazed cases. Ceiling structures and lighting were installed in relation to the final exhibit locations.

The outsourced graphics package was then incorporated onto the completed scenic wall surfaces.

Flooring, skirting, wall-mounted elements and decorative planting resolved the remaining junctions and completed the visual environment. The modular methodology reduced dependence on extensive direct construction inside the pavilion while still allowing the finished fitout to read as a continuous interior.

Creating an Extended-Duration Scenic Installation

The exhibition was intended to remain inside the Slovenia Pavilion for an extended period. This separated the project from short-duration event scenery, where components may only need to perform across a limited installation and operating window.

The Slovenia Pavilion fitout required the speed and adaptability of scenic fabrication while maintaining a consistent finished appearance over a longer display period. Wall sections needed to remain aligned. Plinth finishes needed to withstand continued use and cleaning. Artwork supports and shelving needed to remain stable. Lighting had to function as an integrated part of the exhibition rather than as a temporary technical overlay.

The project therefore occupied a useful space between scenic fabrication, exhibition construction and interior fitout. Evolution Scenic’s workshop capabilities allowed the complex components to be manufactured efficiently, while the installation process converted those modular elements into a refined and cohesive gallery environment.

Completing the Slovenia Pavilion Exhibition

The finished interior brought together several distinct fabrication disciplines. Timber-framed curved walls established the interpretive route. Modular white partitions created the gallery areas. Gypsum construction helped complete the architectural envelope.

Black display plinths and bases supported the exhibit cases, while shelves and framed artwork supports accommodated wall-mounted material. Custom ceiling structures, integrated lighting, flooring, skirting and planting connected the separate elements into a complete environment.

The outcome demonstrates how scenic fabrication can be used beyond temporary event production. Through modular construction, controlled workshop manufacture and accurate supplier coordination, Evolution Scenic delivered an exhibition interior capable of remaining in place for an extended period while retaining the precision and visual clarity required from a cultural display environment.

Creating Custom Learning Environments for Three Abu Dhabi Schools

In August 2023, New Century Education selected Evolution Scenic to deliver customised scenic and functional elements across three schools in Abu Dhabi. The project extended beyond conventional decoration. It brought together large-scale scenic fabrication, custom joinery, library furniture, architectural wall treatments, acoustic panels and educational graphics. Each element needed to make the school interiors more visually engaging while still supporting the practical requirements of pupils, staff and visitors.

The most prominent component was a tree-form library bookshelf measuring six metres high and 3.5 metres in diameter. Finished using spray-painted scenic surfaces, the structure was designed to become a central feature within the library environment.

Around this focal point, Evolution Scenic installed circular seating with integrated cushions and additional long counters. Together, these elements formed a coordinated reading and interaction area rather than a collection of unrelated furniture. The wider scope included visitor-registration counters at the main entrances, slotted wall panels, custom-shaped acoustic treatments and extensive educational graphics.

Turning a Tree Form into Functional Library Fabrication

The tree bookshelf combined the visual scale of a scenic installation with the functional requirements of library storage. At six metres high, the feature occupied a substantial volume within the interior. Its 3.5-metre diameter created a broad canopy and strong visual presence, allowing it to become an organising feature within the library.

The structure incorporated shelving directly into the central tree form, allowing books to be stored and displayed while maintaining the sculptural character of the installation. A circular canopy with shaped leaf elements extended above a central trunk-like structure, while curved shelving was arranged around the core. Rather than placing a decorative tree alongside conventional bookcases, the storage function was integrated into the scenic form itself.

This relationship between appearance and use was central to the fabrication. The bookshelf needed to be visually distinctive enough to define the room while remaining practical as part of the school’s everyday library environment.

Evolution Scenic developed the feature as a large-scale piece of functional scenic fabrication, coordinating the sculptural tree form with the shelving geometry and overall proportions required within the interior. The result was a six-metre-high scenic centrepiece that combined custom fabrication, integrated book storage and a recognisable tree-inspired form within one functional library feature.

Coordinating the Tree, Seating and Library Counters

The tree bookshelf was supported by additional custom-made library elements that extended the same design language through the surrounding space. Circular seating with integrated cushions was constructed around the tree, creating an informal reading zone while making practical use of the area immediately surrounding the central feature.

The curved seating geometry responded directly to the form of the tree. Rather than introducing straight furniture around a circular scenic element, the seating followed the same radial arrangement and helped create a more cohesive relationship between the central structure and the wider library interior. Long counters were also positioned near the tree bookshelves, providing additional working and display surfaces within the library areas.

Together, the tree, integrated shelving, circular seating and adjacent counters created a layered interior environment in which the principal scenic feature was supported by functional elements designed around its scale and geometry.

This coordinated approach allowed the central installation to operate as more than a standalone decorative feature. The surrounding seating and counters helped integrate the tree bookshelf into the everyday function and spatial organisation of the library.

Custom Counters for Visitor Registration

Evolution Scenic also fabricated and installed custom counters at the main entrances of the schools, extending the project scope beyond the library areas and into the arrival environments.

Designed for visitor registration, the counters served a clear operational purpose within each entrance. They provided a dedicated point for receiving visitors while remaining visually integrated with the surrounding interior rather than appearing as standalone furniture.

Because of their position at the main entrances, the counters also contributed to the first impression of the school environment. Their scale, placement and overall form needed to work comfortably within the available space while supporting everyday staff and visitor use.

The counters demonstrated a different aspect of Evolution Scenic’s fabrication capability. Alongside the larger sculptural tree bookshelves and curved seating features, the team also delivered more conventional functional joinery with the same attention to proportion, usability and spatial coordination.

Across the three schools, the visitor registration counters formed part of a wider package of custom-made interior elements. Together with the tree bookshelves, integrated seating and library counters, they helped create a coordinated environment combining sculptural scenic fabrication with practical everyday functions.

Adding Architectural Detail with Slotted Wall Panels

Slotted wall panels were delivered and installed across selected classrooms and circulation areas, introducing a more structured architectural finish to the school interiors.

The repeated linear slot pattern added depth, texture and visual rhythm to otherwise flat wall surfaces. The panels were integrated with geometric wall sections and continued around corners, openings and adjoining finishes to create a more coordinated treatment.

Accurate setting out was important to the installation. The vertical lines needed to remain consistent across adjoining sections, while panel edges had to align neatly with door frames, skirtings, ceilings and surrounding architectural features.

The wall treatment required careful coordination between fabrication and installation so that the repeated pattern remained visually consistent once positioned on site. Clean junctions and accurate alignment were particularly important where the panels met changes in wall direction or other interior finishes.

The completed slotted wall panels demonstrated how custom scenic fabrication could be applied directly to architectural surfaces. Rather than functioning as freestanding scenic elements, they became integrated interior features that added depth, structure and detail to the classroom and circulation environments.

Integrating Acoustic Treatments into Science Rooms

Evolution Scenic produced and installed custom-shaped acoustic panels for the science room walls, combining practical sound control with a more considered visual treatment.

The panels varied in both colour and size, allowing the acoustic elements to become part of the room design rather than appearing as a standard repetitive wall system. Different shapes could be arranged across the wall surfaces to create a more composed and visually engaging finish.

By integrating the acoustic treatment into the overall interior language, the panels performed both a functional and decorative role. Their customised geometry helped break up large wall areas while contributing additional colour, depth and visual structure to the science rooms.

Accurate positioning was important to maintain consistent spacing between the different panel shapes and ensure the overall composition remained balanced across each wall. The installation therefore required coordination between the individual panel sizes, their arrangement and the surrounding architectural features.

The completed treatment demonstrated how functional interior requirements could be incorporated into the wider fabrication package. Rather than treating acoustic control as a separate technical addition, Evolution Scenic developed the panels as visible design elements that contributed directly to the character of the science room interiors.

Transforming Walls into Educational Graphics

Evolution Scenic designed and installed extensive graphic wall treatments across corridors, classrooms and shared school areas, combining school branding with educational content. The illustrated subjects included mathematics, measurement, space, transportation, marine life, personal values, language, sports, the five senses, plant growth and prehistoric life.

Many of the graphics incorporated both Arabic and English content, bringing together illustrations, diagrams, labels and headings across complete wall elevations. Rather than functioning as individual signs, the treatments transformed large sections of wall into integrated educational displays.

The scale of the graphic compositions required careful coordination during installation. Long visual sequences had to remain aligned while working around doors, electrical devices, air-conditioning controls and other fixed architectural elements. Geometric branding was also applied across entrance atriums and upper-level wall surfaces to create a consistent visual language throughout the schools.

The graphic scope extended to the exterior through a large illustrated mural incorporating themes related to heritage, education, technology and Arabic calligraphy. Together, the interior graphics, branded surfaces and exterior mural formed a coordinated visual layer that complemented the wider fabrication and interior works delivered by Evolution Scenic.

Managing Finishes for a Child-Friendly Environment

The school environment placed particular importance on the preparation and finishing of fabricated elements. Evolution Scenic prioritised child-friendly finishes across the delivered components, ensuring that the completed work was suitable for spaces used regularly by young students.

Painted components were fully cured before delivery, while treated items were ventilated to reduce the presence of residual fumes before entering the school interiors. This made finishing an important part of the wider production process rather than simply a final visual treatment.

The requirement influenced the relationship between workshop fabrication, finishing and installation. Sufficient time needed to be allowed for coatings and treated surfaces to cure and ventilate properly before the completed components were transported and installed on site.

This approach reflected the different requirements of fabrication intended for an occupied educational environment. Alongside appearance and durability, the finishing process needed to consider the suitability of the completed elements for everyday use within classrooms, libraries and other student areas.

Installing the Fit-Out Across Three Schools

Evolution Scenic delivered the fit-out across three separate schools in Abu Dhabi, coordinating fabrication, transport and installation across a range of interior environments.

Each school presented different room dimensions, architectural interfaces and site conditions. The tree bookshelves, counters, seating, wall panels and graphic treatments therefore had to be installed according to their intended locations and coordinated with the surrounding architecture.

The large tree bookshelf represented the most substantial interior installation. At six metres high and 3.5 metres in diameter, its scale required careful coordination of access, assembly and working height, while the wider installation also included slotted wall panels, acoustic treatments, reception counters and educational graphics.

Delivering the complete scope across three schools required close coordination between workshop production, finishing, transport and site installation. The completed fit-out brought together large-scale scenic features, functional joinery and integrated wall treatments within one coordinated delivery package.

Delivering a Complete Educational Interior Package

The completed NCE school environments brought together large-scale scenic features, functional joinery, architectural treatments and educational graphics as one coordinated interior package across three schools.

The tree-form bookshelf created a strong focal point within the libraries, combining the scale of an architectural installation with integrated book storage. Circular cushioned seating supported the surrounding reading areas, while long library counters and entrance registration counters introduced additional functional elements for everyday use.

Slotted wall panels added texture and architectural detail across selected areas, while custom-shaped acoustic panels introduced both sound control and colour within the science rooms. Educational graphics extended the treatment across corridors and classrooms, transforming complete wall elevations into large-format learning surfaces.

Together, these elements demonstrated Evolution Scenic’s ability to combine scenic fabrication, custom manufacturing, functional joinery, graphic production and site installation within an educational environment. The full scope was completed across all three schools ahead of schedule, with painted and treated finishes fully cured and ventilated before delivery for use within spaces occupied by young students.

CREATING A COMPLETE VISIT SAUDI HOSPITALITY ENVIRONMENT

For the 2024 Rugby 7s event in Dubai, Evolution Scenic delivered a complete temporary hospitality environment for Visit Saudi. The project extended well beyond fitting out a single tent. It combined a 15-metre by 10-metre external entrance and seating area, a 15-metre by 15-metre main hospitality space and a separate five-metre by five-metre back-of-house catering tent.

Each zone had a different purpose. The outdoor area needed to establish the arrival experience and provide shaded seating. The main tent had to accommodate hospitality, catering, reception, displays, furniture and technical equipment. The rear tent needed to support food preparation and service without interrupting the principal space.

Evolution Scenic handled the design, technical development, fabrication, installation and de-rig. This allowed the scenic walls, ceiling treatment, custom joinery, furniture, graphics, lighting and operational requirements to be considered as one connected environment rather than a tent filled with unrelated rental elements.

That distinction is important in hospitality fabrication. Temporary spaces still need the organisation, finish and practical planning expected of a permanent interior, but they have to be manufactured, installed and removed within a much shorter period. The structure may only exist for a few days, yet it still needs to work properly from the moment it is handed over.

PLANNING THREE CONNECTED OPERATIONAL ZONES

The three spaces were linked visually and operationally, but they could not all be treated in the same way. The external area was open and exposed, the main tent was a controlled interior, and the catering tent functioned primarily as a working support space.

The outdoor zone contained ten six-seater high tables with Arrow barstools, creating the principal standing and seated hospitality arrangement before guests entered the main tent. Four cantilever umbrellas provided shade, while six branded flagpoles and six planted elements helped define the perimeter and strengthen the arrival composition.

Inside the main tent, twelve natural-finished solid-wood round tables created four-seat settings, supported by sofa seating and selected carpeted areas. Four buffet counters, a reception counter and a display plinth organised the principal service and presentation functions. Television screens, four wall-mounted timber shelves, four freestanding air-conditioning units and six fire extinguishers also had to be accommodated within the design.

The back-of-house tent sat behind the principal space and provided the operational catering area. Although less visible, its position affected the main layout. Buffet counters and service routes needed to relate sensibly to the catering support behind them, allowing staff to move between the two areas without disrupting the guest-facing environment.

One of the questions we often ask during hospitality planning is where the operational pressure will occur once the space is in use. A plan may appear balanced when viewed empty, but catering queues, staff movement, furniture and service equipment can change how it performs. Counters, seating and circulation therefore need to be considered in relation to actual use rather than simply arranged to fill the available floor area.

The three-zone layout allowed the project to separate arrival, hospitality and catering while maintaining a clear visual connection between them. The outdoor area introduced the Visit Saudi identity, the main tent developed it into a complete interior and the rear tent supported the practical activity required to keep the hospitality operation running.

BUILDING AN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE INSIDE THE TENT

The main tent provided the weather enclosure, but the scenic construction established the interior architecture. MDF-clad walls, textured paint, graphics, timber details and a custom ceiling treatment transformed the temporary shell into a defined hospitality environment.

The internal wall system created a controlled backdrop around the space. MDF provided a stable surface for textured paint and selected vinyl graphics, while shaped panels and fitted details allowed the walls to accommodate branding, screens, shelving and operational equipment.

A temporary tent rarely offers the same straight and consistent surfaces as a permanent building. The scenic walling therefore needed to create its own finished geometry rather than relying on the fabric enclosure behind it. This gave the interior a more architectural quality and provided reliable fixing positions for the elements mounted onto it.

At selected locations, wall-mounted acrylic branding panels were installed against barasti backdrops. The contrast between the clean acrylic surfaces and the irregular natural texture gave the branding greater depth than a flat graphic applied directly to the wall.

This layering also allowed the Visit Saudi identity to appear as part of the material composition. The acrylic carried the precise graphic form, while the barasti created a warmer and more tactile background. Neither material had to imitate the other.

Television screens and timber floating shelves were incorporated into the wall arrangement. Their positions needed to be resolved during technical development because the internal support, cable routes and access requirements all affected the construction behind the finished surface.

It is easy to treat a screen as a rectangular object that can be mounted once the wall is complete. In practice, its position influences framing, power access, viewing height and the alignment of the surrounding graphics and joinery. The timber shelves created similar demands. They needed sufficient concealed support while maintaining the appearance of clean floating elements.

Overhead, an aluminium frame carried a barasti-pole timber ceiling finish. This ceiling treatment gave the tent a strong internal identity and created a direct relationship with the natural timber furniture and barasti wall details.

The visible ceiling also changed the perceived proportions of the space. Rather than looking upward into the standard tent roof, guests saw a designed overhead surface with its own rhythm, texture and lighting. That helped the main tent feel more like a temporary hospitality venue and less like a fitted marquee.

An overhead scenic treatment introduces practical considerations that do not apply to wall finishes. The aluminium frame had to support the barasti poles while maintaining clear relationships with lighting, air movement and the usable height of the interior. The finish also needed to remain consistent across a broad ceiling area, where irregular spacing would have been easy to see.

INTEGRATING JOINERY, LIGHTING AND OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS

The main tent required a collection of custom-fabricated joinery with different operational roles. Four buffet counters created the principal catering interface, a separate reception counter established the arrival and information point, and a display plinth provided a dedicated location for branded presentation.

These elements needed to function properly before their scenic finish was considered. Buffet counters require usable working heights, adequate depth and practical service access. Reception counters need to support staff and equipment without appearing overbuilt. Display plinths may be visually simple, but clean geometry makes surface accuracy and edge quality particularly noticeable.

The joinery was developed in relation to the surrounding walls, flooring, graphics and furniture. Counter dimensions and positions affected circulation, while their surfaces and finishes needed to sit comfortably alongside the textured paint, acrylic branding and natural timber elements.

Four wooden floating shelves were mounted directly to the scenic walls. These introduced additional display capacity without adding more freestanding units to the room, helping the interior remain open and organised.

Custom scenic lighting features were incorporated into the walls and ceiling. Rather than treating light as an independent technical layer applied after fabrication, the fixtures were coordinated with the scenic surfaces and overhead framework.

This allowed the lighting to reveal the material character of the interior. Textured walls, barasti poles, acrylic panels and timber joinery respond differently to light, and those differences added depth to the space.

Integrated lighting also helped distinguish focal areas from circulation and service zones. The counters, branding and principal wall features could be visually emphasised without relying on one general level of illumination across the complete tent.

Operational equipment presented a different challenge. The space required four freestanding air-conditioning units and six fire extinguishers, all of which needed to remain available and correctly positioned while sitting within a carefully designed interior.

Evolution Scenic fabricated scenic covers to reduce the visual impact of this equipment and help it relate to the surrounding walling and joinery. This is a common requirement in hospitality environments, where essential systems can otherwise become the most visually prominent objects in the room.

Concealment must never prevent equipment from functioning. Air-conditioning units still require airflow and access, while fire extinguishers must remain visible and reachable. The detailed ventilation and maintenance provisions for the covers have not been recorded, but the principle remains important: operational systems can be visually integrated, but they cannot be treated as decoration.

This balance between appearance and function runs through the entire project. Screens needed cables. Counters needed service access. Air-conditioning required clear operation. Fire-safety equipment needed accessibility. Scenic fabrication provided the visual control, but the technical and operational requirements continued to shape the finished environment.

EXTENDING THE MATERIAL AND BRAND LANGUAGE OUTDOORS

The external 15-metre by 10-metre hospitality area extended the Visit Saudi environment beyond the main tent. AstroTurf created a consistent finished surface across the zone, replacing the visual character of the event ground with a more deliberate hospitality setting.

Ten high tables, each arranged with six Arrow barstools, provided the principal seating and standing layout. Four cantilever umbrellas introduced shade while allowing the tables to remain flexible and open around their bases.

The outdoor arrangement needed to work as both an entrance and a usable hospitality space. Guests could gather before entering the main tent, but the furniture, flags and planting also needed to guide movement rather than block the approach.

Six branded flagpoles created height and visibility across the area. Because the seating and AstroTurf remained comparatively low, the flags helped identify the space from a distance and established the Visit Saudi presence before the internal architecture became visible.

Six planted elements softened the edges of the area and provided a transition between the event surroundings, the furniture and the tent entrance. Planting can be particularly useful in temporary environments because it introduces irregular natural form against repeated furniture and fabricated structures.

The use of timber, barasti and planting created a material connection between the exterior and interior. The outside area did not repeat the scenic wall system or ceiling construction, but it still felt related through natural textures, branded elements and a controlled floor treatment.

Branding was carried through the complete project using several methods. The external entrance and flagpoles established the identity outdoors. Inside, vinyl graphics, printed banners and acrylic panels extended it across the walls, counters and display features.

Using more than one branding technique prevented the environment from feeling overly repetitive. Printed graphics were appropriate for larger surfaces and information, while acrylic panels provided a more dimensional treatment at focal positions. Barasti backdrops gave those acrylic elements a distinctive material setting, and the custom joinery allowed branding to be incorporated into physical objects rather than applied only to walls.

In practice, a hospitality space feels more resolved when branding follows the hierarchy of the architecture. The entrance needs clear recognition, focal walls can carry stronger identity treatments and smaller joinery elements can use more restrained details. Repeating the same logo at the same scale throughout the space would not have produced the same result.

INSTALLATION, HANDOVER AND DE-RIG

Evolution Scenic delivered the complete on-site build-up of the environment. The wall systems, aluminium ceiling frame, barasti finish, flooring, counters, shelves, acrylic panels, television screens, scenic lighting, equipment covers, furniture and external elements all needed to be assembled in their final positions.

The three zones required different installation sequences. The main tent fit-out depended on establishing walls, overhead construction and floor finishes before much of the fitted joinery and furniture could be completed. The outdoor area required AstroTurf, furniture, umbrellas, planting and flagpoles, while the rear catering tent needed to be prepared around the operational requirements of the service team.

The overhead frame and wall systems would naturally influence much of the main installation programme. Once those elements were in place, graphics, lighting and fitted details could be completed without major structural work continuing around finished surfaces.

Flooring also needed to be coordinated with the scenic footprints. Carpet had to finish cleanly around walls, counters and furniture positions, while AstroTurf needed controlled edges across the external area.

A complete hospitality environment is not ready for handover simply because the scenic fabrication is finished. Television screens, lighting and cooling equipment need to be checked, furniture must be positioned, and catering and reception teams require access to prepare their areas.

This is one reason early coordination with the operational teams matters. The scenic installation defines the physical space, but the people using it need sufficient time to stock counters, test equipment and understand how the environment works before guests arrive.

Following the event, Evolution Scenic completed the full de-rig. The walling, ceiling treatment, counters, shelves, graphics, lighting features, furniture and outdoor elements were removed after the installation had served its operational period.

De-rig is not simply installation in reverse. Some connections become less accessible once finishes and operational equipment have been added, and the sequence must prevent partially dismantled overhead or wall structures from becoming unstable.

The temporary nature of the project therefore affected the construction from the beginning. Elements needed to be strong enough for use, refined enough for a hospitality environment and practical enough to remove once the event had finished.

WHEN A TENT BECOMES A COMPLETE HOSPITALITY ENVIRONMENT

The completed Visit Saudi installation brought together temporary architecture, scenic fabrication and operational fit-out within one coordinated project.

The barasti ceiling, textured walls, acrylic branding, natural timber furniture and custom lighting established the interior character. Buffet counters, reception joinery, screens, cooling equipment and fire-safety positions were integrated into the same environment rather than treated as unavoidable additions.

Outside, AstroTurf, umbrellas, high tables, flags and planting extended the project beyond the main tent and created a clear arrival space. Behind the hospitality environment, the separate catering tent provided the practical support required to keep the principal areas operating.

Evolution Scenic’s role covered design, technical development, fabrication, installation and de-rig, allowing the architectural, scenic and operational decisions to remain connected throughout the project.

The result demonstrates an important point about temporary hospitality construction. A tent provides shelter, but it does not create an environment on its own. The quality of the finished space comes from the way walls, ceilings, materials, furniture, branding, lighting and practical systems are developed together.

When those elements are coordinated properly, the temporary structure stops feeling like an enclosure filled for an event. It begins to operate as a purpose-built hospitality space.

Creating a Complete Visit Saudi Hospitality Environment

The Visit Saudi Hospitality Tent was developed as a welcoming hub for guests attending Dubai 7s on 2–3 December 2023. Evolution Scenic handled the complete design, technical development, fabrication, installation and de-rig, creating a temporary hospitality environment that extended beyond the main tent into dedicated outdoor and back-of-house areas.

The project combined scenic construction, branded architecture, furniture, catering infrastructure, digital media and operational equipment within one coordinated environment. The outdoor entrance zone provided branded seating, shade and visibility before guests entered the main hospitality space, helping establish the Visit Saudi identity from the point of arrival.

Inside, the main tent combined reception, dining, buffet service, informal seating, displays and wall-mounted media within a custom-fabricated scenic interior. These different functions were planned as part of one overall spatial arrangement, allowing guest circulation, seating and catering activity to operate without visually fragmenting the environment.

A separate catering tent positioned behind the main structure supported the operational requirements of the hospitality environment without occupying the principal guest-facing space. This allowed catering support to remain closely connected to the main tent while keeping service activity separate from the primary hospitality areas.

Across the project, Evolution Scenic used aluminium framing, MDF scenic construction, textured finishes, barasti pole treatments, vinyl graphics, acrylic branding, custom counters, selected carpet and integrated scenic lighting to establish a consistent visual language. Natural textures and neutral scenic finishes provided a controlled architectural base for the stronger Visit Saudi graphics and branded elements.

The completed installation demonstrated how a temporary event footprint could be developed into a complete hospitality environment through coordinated scenic fabrication, technical development and site delivery. Outdoor seating, interior architecture, branding and operational support were brought together as one integrated temporary environment rather than treated as separate elements.

Planning Three Connected Operational Zones

The project was organised across three distinct but connected areas. A 15-by-10-metre outdoor seating zone formed the entrance and first point of engagement. A 15-by-15-metre main hospitality tent contained the reception, seating, catering, display and branded-engagement functions. A separate 5-by-5-metre tent positioned behind the main structure provided back-of-house catering support.

Each area required a different operational approach. The outdoor zone needed to accommodate informal hospitality while maintaining a clear route towards the main entrance. Evolution Scenic supplied ten branded high tables, each configured for six guests and paired with Arrow barstools.

Four cantilever umbrellas provided shade across the seating area, while six branded flagpoles strengthened visibility within the wider event environment. Six plants were incorporated into the layout to soften the relationship between the freestanding furniture, branding and temporary surroundings. Inside the main tent, the spatial plan needed to coordinate dining, lounge seating, reception, buffet service, display areas, screens and operational equipment within one 15-by-15-metre footprint.

The separate back-of-house tent supported catering requirements connected to the three buffet counters without placing these functions within the principal guest environment. This three-zone approach allowed arrival, hospitality and operational support to work together while retaining clear functional separation.

Building an Interior Architecture Inside the Tent

The main hospitality tent was transformed from a standard temporary enclosure into a more defined scenic interior through custom walling, ceiling construction, floor finishes and integrated architectural features. One of the principal elements was the aluminium-framed ceiling finished with barasti poles. This overhead treatment helped establish a stronger architectural character within the tent and visually separated the guest environment from the temporary structure above.

The aluminium framework provided the supporting structure for the repeated timber treatment, creating a warmer architectural plane beneath the tent roof. The regular spacing of the barasti poles introduced texture and rhythm across the ceiling while reinforcing the natural material language used throughout the interior. The linear barasti finish also helped visually control the scale of the 15-by-15-metre space, giving the large tent a more contained and considered interior character.

Custom scenic lighting features were incorporated across the ceiling and walls, strengthening the relationship between the overhead treatment, wall features and branded focal points. The lighting became part of the scenic composition rather than functioning only as general illumination. The scenic walls were clad in MDF and finished with textured paint. This created a consistent architectural surface while allowing selected branding, digital displays and decorative features to remain visually prominent.

Barasti was also incorporated into selected wall features, particularly behind branded acrylic panels. Repeating the same material across both vertical and overhead surfaces helped connect the different parts of the interior and maintain a consistent visual language. Together, the ceiling, scenic walling, textured finishes, lighting and branded features gave the temporary tent a more complete interior architecture, allowing the hospitality space to function as a purpose-designed environment rather than a standard event enclosure.

Fabricating Functional Scenic and Branded Features

Evolution Scenic fabricated a series of functional scenic elements that supported reception, catering, display and brand communication within the main tent. Three buffet counters provided the principal guest-facing catering service points.

A separate reception counter established a clear welcome position within the interior and formed part of the wider scenic composition rather than operating as a standalone furniture item. One custom display plinth provided a dedicated presentation feature, while four timber floating shelves were mounted onto the scenic walls to introduce additional display surfaces without taking up floor space.

Branding was integrated throughout the scenic architecture. Selected vinyl graphics were applied across designated wall surfaces, while branded acrylic panels were mounted against barasti backdrops to create a layered combination of dimensional branding and natural texture. Wall-mounted television screens introduced digital content into the environment and were coordinated with the surrounding scenic walls and guest areas.

The project also incorporated logo branding, printed banner graphics, flags and a branded entrance. Outside, the branding continued across the ten high tables and six flagpoles, extending the visual identity beyond the main tent. Using a combination of dimensional acrylic elements, vinyl graphics, printed banners, screens and freestanding branding allowed Visit Saudi’s identity to appear at different scales throughout the complete hospitality environment.

Coordinating Furniture, Finishes and Guest Areas

Selected carpet was installed across the floor of the main hospitality tent, establishing a continuous finished surface beneath the seating, counters and display features. The carpet also visually separated the main guest interior from the outdoor entrance area. Eight natural-finished solid-wood round tables were arranged as four-seat hospitality settings.

Their repeated layout created structured dining areas while retaining smaller group configurations throughout the tent. Sofa seating introduced lower and more informal hospitality settings alongside the dining arrangements. The natural timber furniture complemented the barasti ceiling and wall treatments, creating a connection between the loose furniture and the fabricated scenic architecture.

Furniture positioning was coordinated with the three buffet counters, reception point, display plinth, wall-mounted television screens and floating shelves. This meant the furniture layout formed part of the overall spatial planning rather than being introduced only as final dressing.

Clear relationships between fixed scenic elements and movable furniture allowed the different hospitality functions to remain identifiable without visually fragmenting the main tent. The combination of textured scenic surfaces, natural timber finishes and selected carpet created a restrained background for the stronger Visit Saudi graphics and branding.

 Integrating Operational Equipment and Catering Support

The main hospitality tent required four freestanding air-conditioning units and six fire extinguishers. Rather than allowing this equipment to remain visually disconnected from the scenic interior, Evolution Scenic produced custom covers to integrate it into the wider environment. The air-conditioning covers were fabricated from MDF and finished with paint.

CNC-cut openings were incorporated into the front fascias to provide ventilation while maintaining a controlled scenic appearance. The backs of the covers remained open, providing access to cables and operational connections. This approach allowed the units to remain functional while reducing their visual impact within the finished interior. Six fire extinguishers were also incorporated using custom scenic covers.

The detailed construction, opening arrangement and identification treatment of these covers have not been supplied and should therefore not be described beyond the confirmed project information. Catering operations were supported by the dedicated 5-by-5-metre back-of-house tent positioned behind the main hospitality space.

This separate area supported the three buffet counters while keeping operational catering activity outside the principal guest environment. Together, the equipment covers and dedicated catering zone demonstrate how operational requirements were considered as part of the scenic planning rather than treated as separate elements after the interior had been developed.

Installing, Delivering and De-Rigging the Complete Environment

Evolution Scenic managed the complete site installation and de-rig across the outdoor seating zone, main hospitality tent and back-of-house catering area. Installation required coordination between scenic walling, ceiling construction, flooring, furniture, branding, lighting, digital screens, counters and operational equipment.

Within the main tent, the aluminium-framed barasti ceiling and MDF-clad scenic walls formed the principal architectural elements. The selected carpet, reception counter, three buffet counters, display plinth, timber floating shelves and furniture then needed to be positioned around the established guest circulation and service requirements. Wall-mounted acrylic branding panels, television screens, vinyl graphics and custom scenic lighting features required coordinated positions across the completed wall and ceiling surfaces.

The outdoor area required the installation and positioning of ten branded high tables with Arrow barstools, four cantilever umbrellas, six branding flagpoles and six plants. Behind the main tent, the separate catering structure supported the operational delivery of the hospitality environment.

Following the event, Evolution Scenic also managed the de-rig of the complete temporary installation. The exact fabrication programme, installation duration, crew size, transport arrangements and de-rig schedule have not been supplied.

The completed project brought together outdoor hospitality, custom scenic interiors, branded fabrication, furniture, catering support and operational equipment within one coordinated temporary environment. It demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s capability across complete design, technical development, scenic fabrication, temporary architecture, installation and de-rig.

Building a Climate Hub at Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University hosted its Climate Hub in Dubai during COP28 in 2023. Running across two weeks, the initiative required the university venue to support a changing programme of presentations, exhibitions and discussions while maintaining one consistent physical and visual identity.

Evolution Scenic was entrusted with the complete scenic scope. The work extended from the principal presentation space into the surrounding exhibition, lobby and circulation areas, creating a venue-wide environment rather than a single isolated stage installation.

The physical package included a custom stage, large scenic backdrop, freestanding exhibition walls, movable screens, display stands, directional signage, wayfinding and applied branding. Furniture and floral elements supplied by Evolution Furniture completed the occupied spaces and helped connect the functional and scenic requirements of the Climate Hub.

Each component needed to work within a different part of the existing university while still belonging to the same visual system. Materials, graphics, scenic construction and furniture were therefore coordinated to create continuity as visitors moved between arrival areas, circulation spaces, presentations and exhibitions.

Constructing the Main Presentation Stage

The principal presentation area was centred around a purpose-built plywood stage platform. Constructing the stage specifically for the Climate Hub created a defined presentation level within the existing university environment and established the physical base for the backdrop, screens, furniture and speaker activity.

Carpet was applied across the upper surface of the stage, creating the finished presentation floor and providing clear visual separation between the raised scenic environment and the surrounding venue. The restrained treatment allowed the branded backdrop and presentation content to remain the dominant features behind the speakers.

The stage formed part of the wider scenic composition rather than functioning as a standalone platform. Its relationship with the backdrop, movable television screens and furniture helped establish a complete presentation environment that could accommodate the changing programme across the two-week Climate Hub.

Using purpose-built scenic construction also allowed the presentation area to respond directly to the requirements of the temporary installation. The completed platform provided a controlled foundation around which the principal visual and functional elements could be arranged.

Fabricating the Printed Fabric Backdrop

A large scenic backdrop formed the architectural and visual anchor behind the main presentation stage. Its construction combined internal timber framing with MDF cladding before a printed fabric finish was installed across the visible surface.

The timber framework established the overall form of the wall, while the MDF created a consistent underlying surface for the textile treatment. This combination allowed the backdrop to function as a substantial scenic structure while presenting a clean and controlled face towards the audience.

Printed fabric carried the Climate Hub identity across a large uninterrupted area without dividing the backdrop into numerous separate graphic panels. The dark scenic surface incorporated Heriot-Watt branding and linear green graphic details, creating a strong visual field behind the carpeted stage and presentation furniture.

The finished wall operated simultaneously as temporary architecture and branding. Rather than placing graphics onto an existing venue surface, Evolution Scenic created a purpose-built scenic structure that established the physical character of the principal Climate Hub presentation environment.

Producing Freestanding Exhibition Walls

The scenic language established around the main stage continued into the wider Climate Hub through a series of self-supporting exhibition walls. These structures used the same principal construction method as the stage backdrop, combining timber framing, MDF cladding and printed fabric finishes.

Maintaining this common construction and finishing language helped connect spaces that served different purposes. Presentation areas, exhibition zones and circulation spaces could vary in function while still sharing the materials, surfaces and graphic treatment established by the main scenic installation.

The walls were developed as freestanding temporary structures within the existing university interior. This allowed the Climate Hub to create its own architectural boundaries and branded surfaces without relying on permanent alterations to the building.

Sustainability also formed part of the scenic brief. The freestanding wall system supported a temporary approach to construction, allowing the Climate Hub environment to be introduced within the university while maintaining the existing architecture as the permanent backdrop to the project.

Integrating Movable Screens and Display Stands

Visual content formed an important part of the Climate Hub programme, but the technical displays were not permanently embedded into the main scenic backdrop. Movable television screens with freestanding supports were positioned around the presentation area, allowing their placement to respond to different sessions and content requirements.

Keeping the screens independent from the rear wall preserved the continuity of the printed fabric backdrop. The large branded surface could remain visually uninterrupted while the displays provided the flexibility needed for presentations, discussions and changing programme formats.

Evolution Scenic also produced custom freestanding LED-screen stands for additional areas of the venue. Treating these supports as part of the scenic package allowed the technical displays to sit within purpose-built structures rather than appearing as unrelated equipment positioned around the Climate Hub.

The combination of movable displays and fabricated screen stands introduced flexibility without losing visual consistency. Technical content could be positioned where required while the surrounding scenic construction, branding and furniture maintained the wider identity of the temporary environment.

Manufacturing Signage and Wayfinding

The Climate Hub environment extended into the venue’s signage and wayfinding system. Directional structures were fabricated with internal steel frames, MDF cladding and vinyl graphics, combining a robust supporting construction with smooth branded surfaces.

Evolution Scenic also manufactured custom freestanding wooden signage stands finished with vinyl graphics. Their self-supporting format allowed identity and directional information to be positioned throughout the university without requiring permanent fixing into the existing architecture.

The smaller signage elements carried the same branded language as the larger scenic walls and stage environment. Colour, graphics and physical fabrication therefore remained connected even as the scale of the individual components changed.

This approach allowed the scenic identity to operate at both architectural and human scales. Large walls established the principal environments, while freestanding signs and directional features helped visitors move between the different areas of the Climate Hub without breaking the visual continuity of the installation.

Extending Branding Through the Venue

The Climate Hub identity continued beyond the principal presentation and exhibition rooms into the wider university environment. Evolution Scenic produced custom branding for the lobby counter, turning an existing arrival point into part of the temporary COP28 installation.

Additional graphic treatments were applied to elevator areas and selected exterior locations. Extending the branding into these circulation spaces meant the Climate Hub did not begin only when visitors entered the main room; its visual identity developed through the journey across the building.

The lobby counter became a particularly visible part of this arrival sequence, carrying large-format Heriot-Watt and COP28 graphics across the existing counter and surrounding presentation areas. This allowed an established architectural feature of the university to participate visually in the temporary environment.

Together, the lobby, elevator and exterior treatments connected the principal scenic spaces with the wider building. Applied graphics and purpose-built scenic structures worked alongside one another, extending the Climate Hub identity without requiring every area to contain large fabricated installations.

Coordinating Furniture and Florals

Evolution Furniture supplied the complete furniture setups and floral elements used throughout the Climate Hub. Seating and tables were arranged across the stage, discussion areas, lounge settings and supporting spaces, providing the functional infrastructure required for the changing programme.

White upholstered seating and smaller tables created a clear visual contrast against the darker printed scenic walls. This relationship helped the furniture remain visually distinct while still sitting comfortably within the broader scenic palette established by the backdrop, exhibition structures and branded surfaces.

Floral elements added a softer material layer to an environment otherwise dominated by plywood, MDF, timber framing, steel supports, printed fabric and graphic finishes. Their inclusion helped balance the harder fabricated components and contributed to the occupied character of discussion and lounge spaces.

Furniture and florals were coordinated alongside the scenic package rather than introduced as unrelated decorative additions. Bringing these disciplines together allowed presentation areas, lounges and discussion spaces to feel complete while retaining the same overall project identity.

Delivering Across a Tight Programme

The Climate Hub brought together several different fabrication and finishing processes within one temporary installation. Plywood stage construction, timber framing, MDF cladding, steel fabrication, printed textiles, vinyl graphics, technical display supports and furniture all needed to operate within a common visual framework.

Each production method served a different physical requirement. Timber and MDF created the large scenic walls, plywood provided the stage construction, steel supported directional structures, printed fabric established the principal branded surfaces and vinyl graphics extended the identity onto smaller signs and existing architectural elements.

The challenge was not simply to manufacture each component successfully, but to ensure that materials and finishes remained visually connected when distributed throughout the university. A visitor moving from the lobby into the presentation area and then through the exhibition zones needed to experience one coherent Climate Hub rather than a series of independent scenic packages.

Coordinating these systems during fabrication allowed individual trades and materials to contribute to the same environment. The result combined temporary architecture, graphics, technology and furniture without allowing any single discipline to feel disconnected from the wider scheme.

Completing the Temporary Environment

The Climate Hub scenic package involved several production processes taking place across multiple areas within an operating university environment. Workshop fabrication, graphic production, screen integration, furniture coordination, transportation and installation all needed to come together within a restricted delivery programme.

The main stage and printed backdrop formed the central installation, while exhibition walls, signage, screen stands and applied graphics were distributed throughout the wider building. Each element had its own physical requirements and final location, making accurate preparation important before the scenic package reached site.

Working within an existing institutional venue also required the temporary structures to respond to established architecture and circulation. Freestanding construction allowed the exhibition walls, signs and technical supports to establish the Climate Hub environment while remaining independent from the permanent building.

The completed installation demonstrates how detailed workshop preparation and coordinated production can support a project spread across several spaces rather than one concentrated event area. Different scenic components could be positioned according to their individual function while maintaining the visual relationship required across the complete venue.