FASHiON PAViLiON COMPETITION

FASHiON PAViLiON COMPETITION

COLOSSEUM, ROME, ITALY

2nd prize International Competition by ARCH TRIUMPH

The fashion industry divides fashion shows into two types based on the nature of garments to be displayed. A “prêt a porter” show is for the ready to wear clothes collection and “haute couture” is to display potential and experimentation in fashion design. Lately there has been a third, alternative type developed outside the fashion shows known as “street style” to display ones own sense of fashion.

In an attempt to choreograph prêt a porter/street style and haute couture into a seamless design brief, this proposal offers the opportunity to the tourist visitor to wear and model clothes from the prêt a porter collection while wandering around the Colosseo and to watch an haute couture fashion show with professional models.  Tourists, visitors and street style journalists meet at the prêt a porter walk to discuss ideas, clothes and fashion. As they walk around their photographic projections are displayed directly onto the sculptural tensile fabric which “in section” separates the program of the prêt a porter and that of the haute couture show.

The new sculptural element also acts as a translucent roof to the monument allowing for the supporting program and services, such as café, restaurants etc, to be distributed freely around existing spaces and ruins between the Colosseo floor plans.

  • Structure
    The sculpture comprises of three steel rings joined together by a single span of ETFE membrane. The sculpture materials consist of the doubly stretched fabric that is attached to the steel profiles. Each profile is attached to the side of the Colosseo walls by the use of tension cabling.

    Material properties
    ETFE foils are UV resistant, inert to chemicals, and 100-percent recyclable. They can be designed with unique patterns on the film, providing a range of light transmission.

    Light and Lighting
    The structure is translucent and creates two kinds of spaces, which come to life with projection and lighting.
    The interior space of the new sculptural element – the old arena – includes the catwalk and seating areas for the haute couture show, isolated from the rest of the building, intended as a blank canvas, an “open air” space for different lighting effects and projections with a profound connection to the elements, the stars, the sky and the Italian fresh air. The constant changes in lighting during the shows change atmospheric conditions, while the projection of the haute couture models’ shadows indicates to the prêt-a-porter visitors the development of a happening inside the arena.
    On its other side, the fabric structure serves as a projection screen of the prêt-a-porter figures in order to make the development of the show visible from every little corner of the amphitheatre.
    During daytime, the fabric structure lets daylight penetrate through.

    Key data
    Building Materials: specially treated ETFE membrane + steel rings + stainless steel cables
    Dimensions:   approx. 175x148x50 m
    Surface Area: approx. 21845 m2
    Installation time estimation: days