UAE-Based Datecrete Studio & Lab Wins Seoul Design Award

UAE-based Datecrete Studio & Lab has been named one of three designboom Special Prize recipients at the 2026 Seoul Design Award for Datecrete, a cement-free architectural material developed from discarded date pits. The recognition highlights the potential of the region’s agricultural byproducts as a resource for sustainable design.

Datecrete combines discarded date pits with a patent-pending natural binder system informed by regional building traditions. The resulting composite can be moulded into tiles, wall cladding, furniture and lighting elements, retaining the pits’ distinctive colour, grain and texture. The approach offers an alternative to conventional materials that rely on cement, resins and petrochemicals.

Established in 2019 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation, the Seoul Design Award recognises designers and organisations using design to address social challenges and improve everyday life. The 2026 edition received 1,204 entries from 91 countries, with more than 60 winners recognised across its main, Young Designer and ESG Design Impact award programmes.