“We're a multidisciplinary studio creatively exploring sand — one of the most abundantly found natural materials, through art and design.”
Karim Tamerji and Elias El Hage have joined years of individual expertise in the fields of fine arts, interior and product design, architecture, site-specific installations, digital design and mural artworks to launch their focused venture.
The duo has come to recognize sand as a material with meaning — in its timeless and universal quality.
Based in the UAE, the studio’s vision was inspired by its immediate context and geography; historical landscapes of desert sands. Following the success of their design debut for the entrance installation at Downtown Design 2022, Karim+Elias has begun with pieces of Dubai, on a mission to craft earthen relics and spatial experiences from landscapes worldwide.
Sand has existed timelessly and, in many ways, paints a meaningful picture of the region’s history, culture and identity. Instinctively, the design duo saw this as an opportunity worth celebrating, while asking themselves — “how can we use the most abundantly found local material as a cultural ode to the region?”
“We’ve come to recognize sand as a material with meaning, one which tells a story steeped in heritage, that speaks to people on a primal and universal level.”
The studios work preserves the age-old method of hand-pressing earth and natural materials layer above layer, commonly known as rammed earth. Dating back thousands of years, compressed sand had been used throughout history to build habitable shelters — an all-natural method using material of and from the context on which it was built.
Simply put, a proportionate mix of earth, clay and water was ram-packed in sedimentary layers within formworks to build partitions or load bearing walls — a comparable technique now replaced by concrete, one of the most polluting materials on the planet. The method has been praised for its thermal, fire-proof and overall ecological benefits, particularly when it’s sourced from its local surroundings.
“Our studio is preserving the ancient art of sculpting with sand, much like the preserved artistry of sculpting marble, carving wood or weaving textile. We consider ourselves revivalists of a traditional craft, now reimagined through contemporary art and design.”
The studio has already introduced the craft into the broader realm of design and architecture, pushing its versatile qualities further. Karim+Elias launched ‘Sand Skins’, introducing the material to interior or exterior wall applications, and continue to explore product pieces and art collectibles beyond. Karim+Elias has begun with pieces of and from the UAE, with upcoming projects in development within the KSA, Qatar and neighboring GCC countries.
