OVERVIEW

Fig: 1 – A waste management facility dealing with textile waste – Credits: BBC

PREMISE

The fashion industry, thriving at the cost of the environment, is a well-known fact. Fast fashion has taken over the market with massive production and lower rates, luring in customers away from the sustainable alternatives which are comparatively expensive.

The waste produced includes chemical solvents and pollutants that harm the environment. The amount of resources the textile productions use is way more than how much it positively gives back to society. The laws being loose for big corporations have contributed to fashion-related pollution around the world.

Apart from the direct impact of industry, its elite and lavish stature has produced second and third-tier waste through unnecessary acts like marketing. These allied industries earn huge profits by cutting on the quality of materials.
How can fashion be pushed in the direction of sustainability?

Fig: 3 – How can sustainable fashion be made mainstream?

TRENDS

High-end fashion brands conduct shows to display their new collections and products, and their methods are getting more creative and theme-based. These shows are conducted on various locations sometimes, and due to time crunch, they are designed hastily and inefficiently.

According to reports, fashion weeks/shows, contribute to a lot of plastic and other waste. These shows are up for a short while but require months of planning ahead for designer sets and destinations, but little thought is given to efficient use of resources or the waste produced.
Venues end up with loads of avoidable trash such as water bottles, paper, flowers, and other decors. Several resources used to provide luxurious services to guests and attendees at the event also adds to the waste pile.

All of this waste can be avoided by designing a dedicated fashion center that can be standardized to the lavishness of fashion weeks, without compromising on sustainability.

Fig: 3 – How can sustainable fashion be made mainstream?

BRIEF

Brief: Design a fashion convention center to hold events and gatherings related to the industry. It should be universal enough to suit the needs of different fashion industries.

The venue must be aesthetic enough to personify the current stature of the high-end fashion industry. The ramps are the highlights of any fashion week, hence the design must be at par with expectations and standards of the previous iconic ramps that were designed, to attract attention enough to promote sustainability as well.

Every tiny to a huge aspect of a building can be played with, given the time and resources. When sustainability comes into play, these aspects can get a little tricky, but given the area program and a little bit of research into the industry, can yield a noticeable reduction in waste.

OBJECTIVES

Concept - the design must meet the industry’s expectations with quality. inspiration can be drawn from the rich history of fashion in the context.

Aesthetic - the design of the centre must create a visual impact that is representative of the exclusivity and grandeur of the fashion industry.

Sustainability - Focus on the waste reduction and management aspect. Centre must be optimized in its power usage when it comes to lighting and ventilation.

Adaptability - the event space must be able to accommodate a wide range of activities of different nature and brands.

Upgradable - the centre must be capable of handling both small and large scale events by efficient layout and service design, with minimal interventions.

SITE

The site is located in Paris, France. Paris is the European centre for art, commerce, finance, and fashion. The capital city has a rich cultural heritage making it a popular tourist spot.

Paris is the international fashion capital of the world. It is home to haute couture but also to contemporary designers of the new trends. The city hosts major fashion events that attract crowds from around the world. The commercial market is also dominated by fashion giants.

The site is at the tip of a small islet on the river Seine. It is connected to the mainland by the Pont Dayde bridge. The islet consists of La Seine music centre and some eateries around it. Even though the site is 2km outside of Paris, its location is suitable for public attractions.

Site area - 16,000 sqm
FAR - 1.0
Ground coverage - 40%
Coordinates- https://goo.gl/maps/iJBn28L1cUWTvWdd9

Area Programme

The facility must have one Fashion ramp, one community hall for gatherings, two green rooms, and any other basic necessities that come along with your curated area program.