Task:
The objective of this assignment was to conceptualize a 12-piece shoe collection, drawing insights from the analyzed brand and the knowledge acquired during the 4-week task. A unique aspect of this project was the collaboration with a classmate specializing in fashion through a separate application. This collaboration expanded the scope of the assignment for me, incorporating architectural inspiration.
Examination of Carlo Scarpa's geometry on the human body:
My design inspiration was drawn from the architectural works of Carlo Scarpa, particularly focusing on his monumental Brion Tomb. I explored the translation of architectural principles onto the human body. Scarpa's architectural style, characterized by large concrete surfaces interspersed with smaller and finer geometric elements, intrigued me. He predominantly employs right-angled systems, confining the organic environment within robust brutalist architectural elements.
In my design process, I aimed to impose a framework on the shape of the foot, analogous to Scarpa's approach of limiting the organic environment. I achieved this through blockier elements in the heel and platform, resembling the way Scarpa incorporates robust architectural components. Additionally, finer geometric interruptions were integrated, mirroring the intricate detailing observed in Scarpa's buildings.
Scarpa's geometric choices, although seemingly arbitrary, serve crucial functions such as refracting light, reinforcing supporting structures, and enhancing the contrast between semi-open spaces and the organic environment. I adapted and reimagined these geometries, clustering them around the mass of the foot.
In the upper part of the shoe, I implemented a simpler and more geometric cut, contrasting with the more extravagant shapes of the platform and the heel. Introducing a square shape for the nose of the last, I sought a design that was more restrained yet visually impactful.
Where appropriate, I maintained right-angle systems in the shoes, mirroring the architectural principles seen in the buildings. This allowed for a thoughtful consideration of the foot's natural shape while drawing parallels between the design elements of the footwear and Scarpa's architectural approach.
Thank you for the photos: Mark Szmetana!
Outfit: Karolina Ferencz
