North Africa Brings “Caravan” Pavilion to Moscow Interior and Design Week

North African design and creative industries will take centre stage at the VIII Moscow Interior and Design Week, taking place from August 13 to 16, with a dedicated “Caravan” pavilion showcasing the region’s rich craft traditions alongside contemporary design.

Organised by the Egyptian Exporters Association in partnership with Cairo Design Week, the pavilion explores design as a form of cultural exchange. Its concept draws inspiration from the historic caravans that connected North Africa with the Middle East and other parts of the East, carrying materials, artistic influences and ideas across centuries-old trade routes.

The exhibition is part of an international event featuring nearly 1,300 companies through exhibitions, business programmes and citywide activities.

“Caravan” Brings Heritage Into Contemporary Design

The pavilion’s design is intended to give visitors the feeling of travelling along an ancient caravan route. A winding pathway guides visitors through the space, while suspended fabric elements evoke desert landscapes and traditional tents.

Rather than presenting a literal interpretation of the theme, the pavilion uses light, texture, materials and objects to communicate the connection between North African heritage and modern design.

The exhibition features furniture, woodwork, textiles, interior products and contemporary design concepts. Traditional techniques and craftsmanship are reinterpreted through modern applications, highlighting the continued relevance of North Africa’s artistic heritage.

Participating exhibitors include Lumberjack, Caja, Nuvelti, Georgette Antiques, Cleopatra Trading Co, Rosaline, International Textile Co. for Textile Industry and Artefacto.

Interior designer, multidisciplinary artist and art historian Lyudmila Rozvodovskaya also contributed to the pavilion, drawing on her extensive study of Eastern artistic traditions to help shape its overall concept.

Egypt’s Design Community Joins International Programme

The pavilion forms part of the “Moscow Cairo” special project developed with Cairo Design Week. The initiative continues Moscow Interior and Design Week’s international programme, following its 2025 participation at the China International Furniture Fair in Shanghai.

North African design will also feature in the event’s business programme. Cairo Design Week founder Hisham Mahdy and DABS Egypt architect Hasan Fikry are among the speakers representing Egypt’s design sector.

The wider programme will bring together more than 200 speakers from countries including Belarus, Egypt, India, Turkey, the UAE and Uzbekistan.

Connecting Traditional Craft With Modern Design

The “Caravan” pavilion positions North African design as an evolving cultural journey rather than a collection of historical traditions. By combining craftsmanship, local materials and contemporary aesthetics, the initiative highlights how centuries-old techniques can continue to influence modern interiors and creative industries.

The pavilion will invite visitors to explore how ideas, materials and artistic practices that once travelled along ancient trade routes continue to inspire designers and makers today