WEAVE 2.0

The Fashion Industry is currently one of the emerging unsustainable industries which is guzzling loads of energy in production of textiles and accessories related to the fashion industry. The pace of work is also quite rapid and needs urgent addressal. 

The project emerged out of this need and tries to inculcate a center for the Fashion Industry in the heart of Paris, which can take care of the unsustainable ways in which Fashion Industry is currently working.

Weave 2.0 looks at the fluid form to encompass the entire functional setup. The planform has emerged from the similarities to location as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, hence the planform is symmetrical and presents an axial planning with the visitor being led to the main arena of the Ramp Walk. This area is set in the backdrop of the river and the setting can be altered to suit the requirement of the Fashion industry.

The entry also sees the location of Brand Stores and small kiosks to promote accessories related to sustainable fashion. The upper floor has a Recyclerie where artisans and fashion designers will be encouraged to work on the recycled clothes and accessories. There will also be a skill center to promote dying arts and crafts related to traditional weaves.

The upper floor also has co-working spaces to promote young designers to work in this space. Hence, the design tries to promote Work bubbles for the young designers, traditional artisans as well as leading fashion houses to collaborate towards a sustainable fashion model.

The Exterior Volume is a more fluid form which also tries to simulate the pattern of weaves and uses steel and solar panels embedded together to make a more sustainable envelope. The form is also trying to create a subtle imagery and blend with the landscape around. The interior spaces are also fluid with the interior facades also becoming a showcase / gallery for the traditional weaves of the World.

The process of Design underwent at least a dozen iterations with originally trying to adapt form the 3D form of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and eventually coming down to a more subtle form development which blends with the surroundings.

The Program for the WEAVE 2.0 competition was developed keeping in mind the probability of this center being promoted as a recyclerie for Fashion Industry as well as a research lab for experimenting with new materials which are having low embedded energy and which are recyclable.

Steel and Glass were chosen as the materials for the superstructure which represent the materials of the times as well as work well on the concept of developing a fluid form. This form has textile weaves for the interior roof. This is proposed so that it can be changeable as per the season..with heavy tapestry weaves during winter to ward off the Cold and light fabric weave for Summers to allow light and heat.

The Project has allowance in the interior space as well as the rear side area to allow for future expansion.

The Project form has fluid form to allow for future plug in of form to his as per the development in future.The Flexibility and fluidity in the spaces on the first floor can also help in the future development. More emphasis is given to horizontal development than vertical expansion. 

The Project concept looks at the Weave hub to be a place for collaborative and innovative research and creative expression for promotion of Slow Fashion as well as promoting platform for the like minded designers.