Tarabot Pavilion

Tarabot, a sustainable pavilion showcased at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, was a groundbreaking architectural marvel that redefined sustainability through innovative natural materials, intelligent design, and cultural awareness. At the heart of this regenerative design was DesertBoard’s Palm Strand Board (PSB®), a pioneering engineered board made from the bio-ecological residual mass of palm fronds. As a key structural component of Tarabot, palm strand boards not only reduced landfill waste (which, if incinerated, would otherwise release CO₂ or methane) but also demonstrated the viability of bio-based materials in architecture.

Its zero-formaldehyde composition, carbon sink properties, reusability at the end of its life cycle, durability, aesthetic appeal, and sustainable local sourcing of agricultural waste – with zero deforestation – set a benchmark for future environmentally friendly construction and sustainable design. Designed as a pioneering interspecies ecotone, Tarabot functioned as a multi-species habitat for local fauna and flora, representing indigenous plants and endangered species while fostering biodiversity and addressing climate change challenges.