oualalou + choi weave flij installation from saharan wool

designed as a centerpiece for the ‘contemporary morocco’ exhibit in paris, france, oualalou + choi erected a pelted-covered installation titled flij.

the structure serves as a symbol and visitor center to the exhibit, displaying works from moroccan artisans as well as a cafe, boutique, and performance area to host scheduled events. a combination of traditional materials and construction methods applied to modern technological advances, the pavilion exemplifies its historic roots in a traditional tent-like structure.

the studio coordinated over 650 m2 of camel and goat wool were woven by female cooperatives in the saharan desert, transported and installed onto a steel substructure that forms six peaks. the form pays homage to the nomadic lifestyle of southern morocco where animal hides were used as canvases around temporary structures.