An eco-chic brand of modular hi-fi speakers designed by a student in the Faculty’s undergraduate architecture program has been making a splash on the international design circuit, including at the prestigious Maison&objet show in Paris in January.

Hashem Hashem, currently in his fourth year of the Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies (BAAS) program, is the design lead at Dubai-based Banou Studio, a design firm he co-founded with Zaid Seddiqi, also an alumnus of the program.

Their black-toned speakers, which are crafted from upcycled palm fronds, are monumental in scale, consisting of six chest-high panels configured in a gentle zigzag about four metres in length. 

They were inspired by Arab astronomy and architecture, say the duo (pictured with the speakers below).

“Triangular perforations scatter across the blackened surface, stylized as abstract stars,” their concept statement explains. “Beneath this starry map, delicate black strings catch the light, shimmering like stars in quiet motion. Together, the perforations and threads control the acoustics, guiding sound with unparalleled clarity.”

Called Byōbu, a reference to Japanese folding screens, the speakers were unveiled during Dubai Design Week in November, when they were put on display at the UAE Design Pavilion. They have since travelled widely.

After Dubai, they were showcased at the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Aptitude Café, an outdoor café at the striking waterfront museum designed by French starchitect Jean Nouvel.

In January, they appeared at Maison&objet, chosen by Dubai Culture, the emirate’s arts and culture authority, for inclusion in the UAE’s Design Oasis pavilion.  

Design Oasis, the Emirates News Agency reported at the conclusion of the show, “provided a unique platform to showcase the creations of 15 young Emirati designers.”

Their “innovative works,” the agency added, “combined authentic Emirati heritage with a contemporary touch, reflecting the UAE’s vision of highlighting its cultural identity in innovative ways.”

Banou Studio, which specializes in the design and construction of pavilions for Emirati businesses, released Byōbu through PalmPulse, an offshoot brand. PalmPulse, says Hashem, is dedicated exclusively to high-fidelity speakers.

Portrait: Daniels Faculty student Hashem Hashem (right) and alumnus Zaid Seddiqi pose with Byōbu, their large-scale speaker system four metres in length.