INTERPLANETARY BOUTIQUE -A retail shop located on Planet Earth which offers an interplanetary shopping experience to space traveller customers.
-ESSAY
INTERPLANETARY BOUTIQUE ‘’Creating a fashion retail experience for space travellers’’
THE GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART Master of Design in Interior Design Term 2 Final Project Hatice Filiz Ünverir
Word count: 1655
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------- 1 CHAPTER ONE - Proposal -------------------------------------------- 2 CHAPTER TWO - Scenerio-------------------------------------------- 4 CHAPTER THREE - Materiality -------------------------------------- 9 CONCLUSION ----------------------------------------------------------- 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY --------------------------------------------------------- 11 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ---------------------------------------------- 12
ESSAY "I think therefore I am" –Descartes ‘’I shop, therefore I am.’’- Barbara Kruger
Figure 1 : Kruger, 1987, Untitled (I shop therefore I am), Photographic silkscreen on Vinyl. 111" by 113"
INTRODUCTION From Descartes to Barbara Kruger, the way that people living their lives and express themselves have changed remarkably. (Figure 1) Since human beings have solved the basic problems of surviving such as drought, famine or epidemics to a large extent throughout the centuries, society has found a chance to focus on materialistic attractions. Shopping is one of the most popular attractions for members of society in our modern era today. ’Fashion is defined both by the universe of clothes and by the phenomenon of change that it denotes. It’s about the way that we dress, and the messages that clothes carry. But it is also about the way that we are programmed by the world around us to look for fluctuations.’ (Sudjic, 2008 : 163) Clothes, accessories or even make-up and hair products can be seen one each golden opportunities for people’s lives to represent their uniqueness of personalities. Moreover, people shop for specific occasions such as weddings, summer vacations or addressing a new born baby’s needs. With the effect of modern technological era, new occasions have been evolving every passing day. ‘…Voyages into outer space had long been used in works of fiction to thrill, inspire and threaten.’ (Topham, 2003 : 7) People have always an inner desire and a curiosity for discovering new lands and life forms outside of Planet Earth. Outer space voyages have been a subject matter in numerous science fiction books, movies or even songs throughout the history. (Friedberg, 1994 : 62 - 63) My main starting point ‘Barbarella’, which is one of the most inspiring sci-fi movies ahead of its time, reveals some initial futuristic ideas related to interplanetary voyage. (Barbarella, 1968)
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Figure 2 : Jane Fonda with Barbarella film Costumes, 1968
‘Traditionally we change clothes so we look appropriate for each new situation.’ (Lee, 2005 : 81) Main character in this movie (Jane Fonda) is a visitor in different planets and she needs various clothing in every particular place she lands due to her changing surrounding, which gives me the idea of shopping for space travel. ‘Space travel shifted from fiction to reality.’ (Topham, 2003 : 8) Interplanetary vacations are one of new occasions what future will bring us soon. According to Elon Musk - CEO and founder of SpaceX - the tech company, it will be possible to transport 1 million people to Mars within the next 50 to 100 years by using their Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). (Stockton, 2016) Even today, lots of celebrities have invested for their first interplanetary experience and they are waiting for the big day. (Changh, 2016) Now, my question is: are we ready for this new type of vacation in terms of shopping experience in near future? CHAPTER ONE - Proposal Since space travel is going to be very common touristic activity in the future, people will need to shop before they start their vacation just like they do for their skiing holiday today. However, they will need special clothes or accessories which are suitable for different planet conditions in terms of their surface characteristics, gravity, temperature or air pressure this time. Apparently, a new kind of vacation requires a new way of shopping. Best way to respond this invention of new type of shopping experience is creating an identical revolution in fashion retail environment for outer space vacations. ‘Interplanetary Boutique’ has a mission to make customers experience different planets’ environments by analysing their characteristics. Creating an outer space atmosphere in a retail shop will play a crucial role on customer behaviour so that shoppers could try and find right products to use in their outer space vacations in the name of being prepared for any situation they may encounter. In the light of my research, I am inspired to create a fashion retail space which allows people to experience interplanetary conditions before they go on their space vacation. This retail shop, in other words Interplanetary Boutique, will be like duty free shops in airports. It will be located in transition points between spaceship launching areas on Planet Earth and outer space so that people can shop just before they take the spaceships to start their interplanetary travel. (Figure 3) Moreover, It will be a portable store, which means storeys can be attached each other and moved to somewhere else. (Figure 4) (GIF 1) 2
Figure 3 : Location of Interplanetary Boutique
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GIF 1 Link : C:\Users\User\Desktop\RETAIL ESSAY IMAGES\GIF-1.gif
Figure 4 : Portable Store
CHAPTER TWO - Scenerio Orbital motion of planets in our solar system is the main inspiration for me to decide the form and structure of Interplanetary Boutique. The main purpose of choosing to interpret orbital motion in my design is creating an easily readable retail environment and making it consistent with outer space design concept. Interplanetary Boutique consists of four circular storeys rising around an illuminated surface referred to Sun, which represents each planet’s orbit in our solar system. Each storey has its own orbital motion just like the planets have. (NASA, 2010) They will revolve around themselves with the help of electricity and rails on the floor. (Figure 5 & 6 & 7) (GIF 2) According to NASA; the closest four planets to Sun are called terrestrial while the furthest four are called Jovian according to their surface characteristics. Terrestrial planets’ surfaces consist of rough and solid rocks, however, Jovian planets have smooth gas surfaces. (NOVA Article) (Figure 8) In other words, as planets move away from the Sun, their surface particles become distant each other. I interpreted this information into my design both structurally and internally. In terms of structure; from inner circle (storey) to outer circle, horizontal planes will disintegrate as a representation of changing surface densities of each planet in our solar system. ‘Surfaces transform before our eyes, and seeing is no longer believing.’ (Openshaw, 2015 : 111) As a result of disintegration, volume of retail space expands as long as it is moved towards outer circles of structure. (Figure 9) (GIF 3) In terms of interiority, I designed hypershelves as display units enhanced by haptic technology which respond user’s hand behaviours. (Quinn, 2011 : 176 - 177) (Figure 10 & 11) (GIF 4) What is more, I distributed them to storeys closer to each other as they are close to illuminated core, to emphasize my inspiration coming from surface characteristics of planets. According to my circulation scenario, customers enter to the shop from both sides of the inner circle linked with the catwalk area, in other words ‘interactive showcase’. (Figure 12) For customer circulation, ramps will be used between platforms in terms of accesibility. (Figure 12) First, they will watch the hologram models on the catwalk. Clothing of holograms will change in every layer they walk according to the planet they represent. On the screen behind the catwalk, customers can see the details about location of clothes and they can find them in the store easily. (Figure 13 & 14) (GIF 5) 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
GIF 2 Link : D:\dönme gif.gif Figure 7
TERRESTRIAL
JOVIAN
FROM.........................................................TO ROUGH/SOLID/ROCKY SURFACES - SMOOTH/WATER/GAS/TRANPARENT SURFACES MORE SUNLIGHT
-
LESS SUNLIGHT
Figure 8 : Analysis of Planets’ Surface Characterıstıc
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GIF 3 Link : D:\açılma gif.gif Figure 9
Figure 10
GIF 4 Link : D:\HYPER-GIF.gif
Figure 11
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3000 cm
Hypershelves
Ramp
Entrance
Entrance
PLAN (not to scale)
Figure 12 : Design Process 7
Figure 13
Figure 14 GIF 5 Link : D:\CATWALK-GIF.gif
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CHAPTER THREE - Materiality According to report the physical sensation of being weightless in outer space of Yuri Gagarin, who is the first cosmonaut was shot into outer space; ‘Everything was easier to perform… legs and arms weighed nothing… Objects are swimming in the cabin, and myself, I did not sit in the chair, as before, but I was suspended in mid-air…’’ (Topham, 2003 : 33) Since interplanetary Boutique will be a portable fashion retail shop created with the inspiration of planets following their orbits by defying the gravity in our solar system, I preferred to use floating and lightweight materials in interior as if they are hoovering in space. Translucent concrete is used for horizontal floor slabs with different densities in each storey to refer degradation of planets’ surfaces from solid to transparent. (Figure 15) It also helps to create a degraded lighting distribution from the illuminated core to outer circles of structure. (Figure 16) What is more, photochromic glass which responds to light is used for vertical parapets in storeys to create different densities vertically. (Figure 17) To explain, photochromic glass surface of parapets are more opaque when they are located close to inner illuminated core due to exposure of more light than outer circles, which also creates a vertical degradation in whole structure. Moreover, silico aerogel which also known as ‘frozen smoke’ or ‘solid air’ is used for hypershelves, in other words display units, thanks to its lightness and ability to move easily. (Figure 18) Furthermore, panelite which is a lightweight material that employs a honeycomb process is used for vertical balance of hypershelves from both sides of parapets. (Figure 19)
Figure 15 : Translucent Concrete
Figure 16 : Lighting Distribution (Density) 9
Figure 17 : Photochromic Glass
Figure 19 : Panelite
Figure 18 : Silico Aerogel
CONCLUSION As a conclusion of developing high-tech space industry that has been supported by human curiosity for the outer space, it can be easily pictured that people will go to other planets for holiday purposes in very near future. Like any other traveller, space travellers want to make sure if everything is ready before launching to space. Shopping is the best way for them to address their needs as a part of this preparation. However, this time they need a different shopping environment in parallel with nature of their journey to outer space. That is to say, a retail shop for space travellers should allow its customers to experience interplanetary conditions because, basically, products selling will be used in different planets by them. This makes customers relieved and focused on their purchases significantly. Interplanetary Boutique located in transition points between spaceship launching areas on Planet Earth and the outer space, has been designed to fill this gap in future retail design industry and supply customers for a better shopping experience by creating an interplanetary atmosphere inside. To create this atmosphere, orbital motion of planets in our solar system, their positions relative to each other and their surface characteristics have played a remarkable role. What is more, form of the structure; distribution of interior elements; circulation scenario and materiality have contributed equally to create a harmonious retail environment and embodied Interplanetary Boutique in outer space design context with the help of technological innovations in near future.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Barbarella, 1968. Film. Directed by Roger Vadim. France: Marianne Productions (DVD) Changh, K., Elon Musk’s Plan: Get Humans to Mars, and Beyond, The New York Times Life Blog, (03.05.2018) https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/science/elon-musk-spacex-mars-exploration.html Descartes, R. 1637, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Seeking Truth in the Sciences, 19–20. Friedberg, A., 1994, Window Shopping: Cinema and the Postmodern, London: University of California Press, 62-63. Hitt, D., 2010, What is an Orbit?, NASA Official website, (03.05.2018) https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-orbit-58.html Kruger, B., 1987, Untitled (I shop therefore I am), Photographic silkscreen on Vinyl. 111" by 113". Lee, S., 2005, Fashioning the Future: Tomorrow’s Wardrobe, London: Thames Hudson Ltd, 81. NOVA Article, Terrestrial and Jovian Planets, NOVA educational website, (03.05.2018) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/activities/3113_origins_07.html Openshaw, J., 2015, Postdigital Artisans: craftsmanship with a new aesthetic in fashion, art, design and architecture, Amsterdam: Frame Publishers, 111. Quinn, B., 2011, Design Futures, London: Merrell Publishers Limited, 176-177. Stockton, N., Elon Musk Announces His Plan to Colonize Mars and Save Humanity, Science and Culture website, (03.05.2018) https://www.wired.com/2016/09/elon-musk-colonize-mars/ Sudjic, D., 2008, The Language of Things, London: The Penguin Group, 163. Topham, S., 2003, Where’s My Space Age? The Rise and Fall of Futuristic Design, Germany: Prestel Publishing Ltd, 7-8 & 33. 11
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1:
https://noaozielart.weebly.com/i-shop-therefore-i-am.html Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 2:
http://www.gavinrothery.com/my-blog/2011/12/12/barbare lla-the-original-space-babe.html Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 3 - 14: Visual representations created by me. Figure 15:
https://medium.com/@Sam.Mathur/transparent-concrete-a-step-to ward-green-buildings-d8975a625b8e Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 16:
Photographs of my model taken by me.
Figure 17:
http://www.saiindustrial.com/smart-glass-a-rapidly-growing-market/ Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 18:
http://markets-research-report.doccler.com/global-sili ca-aerogel-market-2017-share-size-forecast-2022 https://sites.google.com/site/gotbedbugz/treatment/selica-aerogels Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 19:
http://transmaterial.net/panelite/ Date access: 03.05.2018
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INTERPLANETARY BOUTIQUE -A retail shop located on Planet Earth which offers an interplanetary shopping experience to space traveller customers.
-MANIFESTO
1 Figure :
ing h t o l c rious d, a n v a l d e e e We n t planets w ging n an e r h e c f r f i u in d ng. to o i d g n n i u d surro accor
-MANIFESTO CEO and founder of SpaceX - the tech company, Elon Musk has just unveiled interplanetary spaceship to colonize Mars. In his last presentation at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) he officially claimed that SpaceX will send the first astronauts to the Red Planet in 2024 and these first settlers will start working for the Martian Colony. Using their Interplanetary Transport System (ITS), they aim to transport 1 million people to Mars within the next 50 to 100 years. (Changh, 2016) (NOVA Article) People have always an inner desire and a curiosity for discovering new lands and life forms outside of Planet Earth in case of any danger we may encounter. Today’s technology clearly anticipates that human beings will be able to find their ways during interplanetary voyages in 50 years. That is to say, by 2074, people will start travelling from the Planet Earth to the other planets. Throughout 50 years, lots of investments will be made and advertisements will be given for space travel. Thanks to all these effort, a new type of vacation will be invented for people who want to be interplanetary travellers. For them, definition of holiday will change in near future and interplanetary vacations will be the dream holiday. Outer space experiments always ignite my curiosity. The fact that there are other destinations outside of Planet Earth to visit made me think why not I contribute this adventure by combining my favourite professional and personal interests which are retail design and shopping! Since space travel is going to shift from fiction to reality in the future, a revolution will also be needed in its retail environment, which stir my ideas as a designer. (Topham, 2003 : 8) 1
DEFINITION OF HOLIDAY WILL CHANGE. NEW TYPE OF VACATION WILL BE INVENTED. INTERPLANETARY VACATIONS WILL BE THE DREAM HOLIDAY.
Before any kind of vacation, people tend to make some preparations and meet their needs by shopping. Since space travel is going to be a new kind of vacation, experiencing a shopping environment which reflects the main characteristics of outer space will prepare customers before their exciting space adventure and help them to find right products to use in their holidays. Therefore, they can purchase their ‘future vacation wardrobe’ with scrutiny, which makes them ready for any situation they may encounter during their outer space voyage. Interpreting orbital motion of planets in our solar system is the most distinctive feature that will shape Interplanetary Boutique. It consists of four circular storeys rising around an illuminated surface, which represents planet’s orbit in our solar system. Each storey has its own orbital motion just like the planets have. They revolve around the illuminated surface referring the Sun with the help of electricity and rails on the floor. When it is analysed characteristics of planets according to their order in our solar system, there is one main feature which seperates them from each other. Their land structure, which means their geology differs from one another in consequence of their distance from the Sun. As long as planets go away from the Sun in our Solar System, their surfaces changes from solid structures to gas. (NOVA Article) Varied surface densities of planets inspired me to to create an extraterrestrial future wardrobe atmosphere for customers in Interplanetary Boutique in the future. Hypershelves which respond user’s hand behaviours will my main elements to shape this future wardrobe as display units for futuristic fashion products. They will be distributed to each four storeys as close to each other in inner circles while their forms will be less compact in outer circles. This contributes the identity of design and leaves a strong impact on customers in terms of experiencing a revolutionary outer space shopping environment in near future. 2
REFERENCES Changh, K., Elon Musk’s Plan: Get Humans to Mars, and Beyond, The New York Times Life Blog, (03.05.2018) https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/sc ence/elon-muskspacex-mars-exploration.html NOVA Article, Terrestrial and Jovian Planets, NOVA educational website, (03.05.2018) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/activities/3113_origins _07.html Stockton, N., Elon Musk Announces His Plan to Colonize Mars and Save Humanity, Science and Culture website, (03.05.2018) https://www.wired.com/2016/09/elon-musk-colonize-mars/ Topham, S., 2003, Where’s My Space Age? The Rise and Fall of Futuristic Design, Germany: Prestel Publishing Ltd, 8 .
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 :
http://www.gavinrothery.com/my-blog/2011/12/12/ barbarella-the-original-space-babe.html Date access: 03.05.2018
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INTERPLANETARY BOUTIQUE -A retail shop located on Planet Earth which offers an interplanetary shopping experience to space traveller customers.
-Supporting Materials
- WHY SPACE TRAVEL?
My Initial and main inspiration; sci-fi movie ‘Barbarella (1968)’
From the movie, it can be seen the initial ideas of what were expected from technological era. The machine she (Barbarella - Jane Fonda) lives in, clothes she wear, tools she use, point out futuristic expectations of developing technology in the future. Most importantly, she is a visitor in different planets coming from the Planet Earth in an unspecified future. This is a very strong reference for space travel which seems quite possible in near future.
‘TRADITIONALLY, WE CHANGE CLOTHES SO WE LOOK APPROPRIATE FOR EACH NEW SITUATION. -Fashioning The Future, p:81
Since she was travelling between different planets, Barbarella changed so many clothes during the movie.
She has to defense herself with gun and flexible / camouflage clothing for different surroundings.
Figure : 1
Figure : 2
After an attack, she is lying down on the ground. Her light-colored clothing seems quite adabtable to her environment including Angel’s wings.
Figure : 3
Costume for camouflage purposes in a green planet;
Figure : 4
She was cold and needed more fur in a cold planet;
Figure : 5
- HOW WILL FUTURE WARDROBE BE?
Obviously, smart clothes for space travelers: Recyling is very important in space travel. THERE IS NO STORAGE TO GO TO IN SPACE. Travelers need food which don’t crumble. Water....to stay hydrated. Maybe a cloth made by fabric pipes and contains food/water/vitamin capsules? An emergency cloth for outer space as a food and water supplier.
Hungry? Take a sip!
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 :
http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/ 2017/7/24/jane-vs-barbarella-jean-and-jane-episode-5 Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 2 :
http://jonvilma.com/barbarella.html Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 3 :
http://ca.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/2888104/barbarella3 -at-prince-charles-cinema-london Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 4 :
https://www.timeout.com/london/ďŹ lm/barbarella-1967 Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 5 :
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/news/article/blu-rayreview-barbarella-us-import/12926 Date access: 03.05.2018
INTERPLANETARY BOUTIQUE -A retail shop located on Planet Earth which offers an interplanetary shopping experience to space traveller customers.
-Research / Case Studies
‘...VOYAGES INTO OUTER SPACE HAD LONG BEEN USED IN WORKS OF FICTION TO THRILL, INSPIRE AND THREATEN.’ - Where Is My Space Age?, p:7
-I-
Figure : 1
People have always had fantasies about intersteller space.
‘The image comes from a work by Grandville from 1844 (Un Autre Monde- Flaneur of the Universe) which described the adventures of a fantastic little goblin who finds his way through interstellar space.’ (Windows of Shopping, p:62)
‘SURFACES TRANSFORM BEFORE OUR EYES, AND SEEING IS NO LONGER BELIEVING.’ -Postdigital Artisans, p:111
‘disintegration...’
-II-
‘The Toyota iQ Interactive Gesture Experience , by Seeper, U.K.-based arts and technology collective.
‘Virtual products can be enhanced by haptic technology and they can reply users with a simple command such as wawing hands.’
Same technology with hypershelves in my project.
Figure : 2
-III-
SLOW FURL :
‘This robotic membrane, is formed by its slow action, reacting imperceptibly to its inhabitation.’
hypersurfaces which can respond user’s hand behaviours
Inspiration for responsive display units -hypershelvesin my project. Figure : 3
-IV-
‘Li Hongbo, sculpt solid blocks of paper that expand into concencertinaed shapes, challenging our expectations of materials and form.’
Inspiration for disintegration in my project.
Figure : 4
-V-
‘Artist Faig Ahmed turns the art of traditional rugs on its head by deconstructing, disassembling and repurposing the visual elements associated with the carpets.’
Inspiration for disintegration in my project.
Figure : 5
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 :
http://gallimaufry.typepad.com/blog/2014/01/un-autremonde-by-jj-grandville.html Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 2 :
http://www.seeper.com/labs Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 3 :
https://kadk.dk/en/case/slow-furl Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 4 :
http://www.galleryek.com/artists/li-hongbo Date access: 03.05.2018
Figure 5 :
http://www.faigahmed.com/index.php?lang=en&page= 8&projID=13 Date access: 03.05.2018