Sidewalk Salon at OnomatopeeOnomatopee, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, 2015
In 2015, to coincide with the launch of our book Sidewalk Salon: 1001 Street Chairs of Cairo, David, my coauthor, and I created an immersive installation at Onomatopee in Eindhoven as part of Dutch Design Week. We designed the installation to provide visitors with a multi-sensory experience that reflected the themes of our book. The installation's centerpiece was a wooden box that unfolded to create an intimate space, featuring a table and four found street chairs. On the table, visitors could explore our book alongside two of our video works, Bermuda Chairs and In the Sidewalk Salon, displayed on iPads. Additionally, an iPad showcased a custom-designed website that offered an extended exploration of our project. The website included interactive maps and geotagged chair pictures, providing a visual journey through the streets of Cairo. It also featured sound pieces and interviews pinned to specific locations, allowing visitors to listen to the voices and stories recorded during our walks. This digital component enriched the physical installation, offering a deeper understanding of the cultural and social contexts behind the street chairs. The installation invited visitors to engage with the everyday objects and stories that often go unnoticed, highlighting the significance of street chairs in Cairo. By combining physical and digital elements, we aimed to create an experience that encouraged reflection on the intersection of design, urban life, and social narratives.