Amira Ajlouni Thesis Project M.ARCH FIU 786. 427 . 5618 Aajlo001 @fiu.edu
Waste=Fo od Architecture and Fashion as a Performance Art through Exploration of Recycled Materials
Amira Ajlouni Professor Gray Read FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE April 2014
For all my family, thank you for your unconditional support. For my Professor and mentor Gray Read, Thank you for your full faith in me, your inspiration, and introduding me to the vast topic of sustainability.
If we think about things having multiple lives, cradle to cradle, we could design things that can go back to either nature or back to industry forever _ William McDonough
Abstract Fashion and architecture are two distinct forms of art. However, both are a mean of expression .This thesis challenges the traditional notion of Architecture and fashion as static forms, and proposes their alliance to create a performance that engages different roles they may play. For example, how wide stairs can transform into a dynamic performance of people mingling and exchanging ideas; or how a ball gown may impact the wearer’s attitude and movement. Such ideas tie to Bernard Tschumi’s concern with juxtaposing space and event, claiming that there is no space without event, no architecture without program . An event transforms architecture completely through creating disparate situations, each time unique and spontaneous. A structure combined with an activity brings architecture to life. Now architecture is no longer the background, but the event itself, bringing fourth new roles. A performance is proposed through the relationship between fashion and architecture as actors and the audience. Proposal The proposal is to design a complete fashion show performance facilitated through clothing and architecture with a focus on sustainability through using only recycled materials. This design process will include a series of explorations of recycled materials, spatial studies, light studies, and body diagramming. These investigations will reveal intense relationships between people, clothing, and architecture. The focus will shift to the human body as the site, as everything from set design to clothing will need to accommodate for the presence of the human body. Aside from the thesis’ author designs, thirty of the university students are competing for scholarships by designing outfits and modeling them in front of an audience including the general public and the university students, faculty, and staff. The students’ participation is part of the performance.
Performance
Environment
Body
Shredded Paper This piece was constructed by pairing two materials, paper and plastic shopping bags. Plastic bags were sawn together to create the surface unto which shredded paper will be glued. The plastic material was optimal for creating the skirt layer due to its ability to conform to any body movement without being to o rigid. Paper shredded pieces were lines unto either ends of a horizontal band which was then folded over to create density . The horizontal bands were then sawn unto the plastic surface and layered to create a texturized surface of paper.
MAGAZINE PAPER/ WHITE PAPER The exisiting drawings on the white paper were used as part of the design for the skirt portion, and were folded in unequal parts to create overlapping, which would give the skirt a flexible volume thus allowing the user to move freely.
The top portion of the dress is composed of a collection of magazine paper flowers. These flowers were constructed using several methods of shredding, layering, crunching that produced unique designs each time. The exisitng color of each sheet was retained to be used as part of the overall design.
VINYL The design was based on the motion of the dancer. It was designed to highlight certain leg and arm extensions. The circular skirt emphasizes the twirling movement.
The wings were added to exentuate the arm movement. Lines were extended from the skirt to the angles to create a cone geometry that emphasizing the spinnning movement of the dancer.
DANCE
Vinyl/Plastic Bag This design was made from the union of two materials vinyl and black plastic bag. The movement of the wearer informed the design. As the person was moving, the emphasis on horizontal movement was desired, therfore the outfit was constructed to do just so and allow the limbs to move freely. Due to the stifness of vinyl, the pants had an opening on the knee portion to allow a full limb motion as well as emphasize that moment of rotation. The top portion was constructed from lo ose pieces to allow spontaneous movements to take place.
Crumbled Paper A surface that acted like smo oth fabric was desired, and since paper is stiff producing sharp edges when folded, some manipulations were made. Prior to forming the outfit, the paper was collapsed and expanded several times until the paper fiber connections were weakened. This process allowed the paper to become more rexponsive to bends and curvilinear which were used for the top portion of the outfit. The skirt was formed by the same processed paper,and was folded into vertical strips which would give volume to the skirt and allow the user to move freely and fit comfortably without paper tears occuring.
Changing Rooms
Sectional Diagram A
Food/Cocktail Bars Area
Non-Profit Tables
Bag Canopy
Sign in Desk
A
Seating Area
Constructed Ground Runway
A
Backstage
B
Projection 2
Sectional Diagram B
FIU SOA Floor Plan/Event Setup Diagram
B
20_Reclaimed Wo od Chairs A project made by Martina Gonzales and John Gioello composed of 20 chairs constructed from %100 reclaimed wo od. The wo od has been collected from all over the world, and varies in colors, making each chair unique and one of a kind.
108_Drawing sheets
60_Plastic Tubes The ground portion of the runway is constructed from recycled plastic tubes mounted on cardboard legs. They are lit to highlight the runway at night.
800_Sky Fabric This piece is composed of plastic bags tied together that will span over the area of the courtyard creating an overhead canopy. The plactic bags have a quality of opaqueness that diffuses light placed behind it. The bags handles are cut, and the bag is sliced from the sides to flatten into a surface double its original surface. Then these handles tie together to make a web of bags, creating an interesting tiling effect.This exploration of brings about a piece that creates space below it, performs with the wind, uses a material in a non conventional matter,and filters light.
x
800
The process of creating a network of diamond shapes involved twisting the bags, tying them together, and taing any lo ose ends to create an effect of tension. After the completion of the bags, fish wire has been used to reinforce this piece and keep it from bowing as it spans a distance of 60’
The Stair
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Thank You