Keeping The Past Alive

In this project I was looking at the heat retention in tenement flats and how they have evolved to comply with todays standards. The fire place and gas stove were the main sources of heat when they were first built however after WW1 when fuels were rationed, occupants had to ensure every last bit of heat was retained within the building. Especially during the harsh winters. To adhere to the ‘playful’ aspect within the brief, I began to explore different patterns in tenement stairwells and how they could be modernised to be incorporated into a purposed product.

Existing Examples

To begin, I researched existing tenement floor tiles which due to renovations are becomes slowly harder to find in Scottish cities.

New York

I then found examples in New York. Being that New York's grid system was based on Glasgow, I felt the link to be an apt comparison.

Iterations

I then started playing on illustrator and finding a colour palette that works with more contemporary tastes.

I came to my final design with rose emblem inspired by the famous Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. The wife of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who incorporated her rose in to many of his most famous designs.

After printing the fabric, I then sewed the draft excluder using a sewing machine and then stuffed with down feathers.