Event all set to promote safe water for future generations

DUBAI: A number of participants from the architecture and design community will unite to highlight and bring new ideas to promote safe water for future generations.

In this regard, a mega event will be held on December 8, 2021, under the theme of ‘Design, Dine, make a Difference’ - an inspirational gala featuring Surge’s global work, GAIA themed creations, and The Sustainability Design Awards in The Address, Dubai Marina.

The annual gala will host over 50 architecture and design firms where they come together and the cut-throat competition aside for a shared goal and common purpose – Surge for Water’s mission to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene to global communities in need.

The Surge journey begins in April, every year with a design challenge, where designers participate in healthy competition to create the most unique and sustainable work of art.

This year, eleven of the region’s leading Interior Design Houses will reveal inspiring designs deeply connected to the theme – GAIA.

To embody GAIA, designers were challenged to capture our changing planet and humanity’s role in this evolution by considering all four dimensions of sustainability – the social, ecological, economic and worldview. Designs were encouraged to either be provocative and raise awareness of the ecocide that is occurring or celebrate the beauty that occurs when working in synergy with nature. The pieces will inspire a lighter footprint on our planet - one that encourages humanity to respect, protect and celebrate our connection to Mother Earth! The pieces will also be auctioned off to raise funds for Surge’s global work.

Unique to this year, Surge is also partnering with Love That Design to incorporate The Sustainability Awards into this event. Entrants for The Sustainability Awards 2021 include projects, products and companies from the MENA region with an entirely sustainable design ethos in terms of aesthetics and practices.

“The aim of these awards is to bring about an even greater focus to an ever-growing global concern of climate change, and our need to make more conscious decisions,” says Siddharth Peters, Co-founder at Love That Design. “The awards will bring to light projects and products that are proud to be environmentally sustainable, and make the industry at large sit up and take notice. With these awards, we hope to be a catalyst for a more accelerated change.”

At the gala, in addition to celebrating sustainable design, guests will also learn about the Global Water crisis and Surge’s response to solving this issue. “While Surge provides safe water access to global communities in need, we also recognise the role each person plays in solving the water crisis,” says Shilpa Alva, Surge’s Founder. “This gala is a great way to build community, so together, we can raise additional funds and awareness for our cause and help create a beter world that’s one with nature”.

All event proceeds will fund sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene programs such as well drills and fixes, rainwater harvesting systems, water filters, toilets, and more. Access to these basic needs, lead to improvements in education, income, health and overall wellbeing for generations to come.