The Portsmouth Corset: Dialogue

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Aims
    Continuing our practice of which considered the role of the architect as a physical novelist who weaves together past, present and future and explores the making and materiality of a spatial practice. PortsmouthCorset Dialogue is one of a series of spatial stories.
    We have been working in collaboration with Vollers, the last remaining corset makers in Portsmouth to uncover the links through drawing; of the city, corset and body (water). We found many parallels and analogies between architecture, city, structures and fashion.
    This work explores the gendered nature of a city. Portsmouth has multiple identities, its Naval history and masculinity of the defended city and hidden history of Corset Making. Through drawing out the Island City ofPortsmouth the corset becomes entwined with a City of Makers and combines the masculinity of the defended city and corset making naval wives.

    Methodology
    Researching and mapping the locations of the corset makers in Portsmouth we found workshops within homes scattered around the city, with the main design houses in London. We contrasted this to the ravelins and bastions, the satellite of defences that protect the harbour. Military and masculine, these structures in both form and scale contrast the domestic and the body - scale shift from city to house to body.
    We use Storytelling to enrich place reading, co-drawing and layering ideas. A forensic theme developed which mimicked the xray of the INFORMED body within the corset. We started modelling and stitching going from 2D to 3D, from Globe to Corset, from Harbour to Body, from Terrace to zip. De-constructing, re-assembling layering and re-layering, inverting and unravelling shapes to make patterns for both corset and ravelin.

    Anticipated outcomes:
    We are working towards the next phrase of this project and wish to expose our working methods for discussion and collaboration.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication statusPublished - 5 May 2021
    EventCulture Costume and Dress The Body Politic: Dress, Identity and Power.: The Dress in Context Research Centre - 3rd international conference. - Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
    Duration: 5 May 20217 May 2021
    https://ccd2021.org/

    Conference

    ConferenceCulture Costume and Dress The Body Politic: Dress, Identity and Power.
    Abbreviated titleCCD2021
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityBirmingham
    Period5/05/217/05/21
    Internet address

    Keywords

    • Narrative
    • Architecture
    • maps

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