Trying to survive the heat wave, I strolled around the city in a search of an AC-including activity. Then, I bumped into a cafe - the view was nice, the AC was on, and they served green tea. What more could I ask for?
We stroll around the streets, eyes locked to the screens of our cells, unaware of the existence of anyone else. Oh, there are other people living in our hometown? Who would have thought. Please allow me to present every loner's nightmare: The Social Roof.
The Social Roof, a design by Juliette Gold
The Social Roof, a design by Juliette Gold
The Social Roof, a design by Juliette Gold
Placing a roof in space appears to be enough to define a location. The roof claims the space under it to be its own and consequently, a compound is created.
The model depicts a roof, joined to a streetlight. The roof itself can be folded or stretched out - making the space is covers alterable. When open, the roof provides a shelter from the rain. The water drips from the roof to little tunnels, and then streamed to a fountain.
The roof creates an ecologically-responsible public domain that can be utilized for social gatherings and meetings. So let's get to know each other while it rains.
The Social Roof, an illustration by Juliette Gold
Do you know the people who live in your town? Would you like to have opportunities to get to know them better?
What is a maze - in a non-Harry-Potter-or-Greek-Mythology-related context? A labyrinth is a convoluted and complicated structure, in which you loose the perception of space. You walk around it, sometimes in circles, sometimes you reach a blind alley; but you always make new and exciting discoveries along the way. The center of the maze, however, is slightly different and holds within it a surprise. Only when you find that wonder at the heart of the maze, you are able to see your way out.
Or in short:
Maze, a model by Juliette Gold
Is there really a place that embodies the criteria? Are there contemporary mazes? There sure is one I know of. If you've ever been to Neve Tsedek, the oldest neighborhood established in Tel Aviv, I'm sure you've gotten lost at some point. Neve Tsedek is my favorite location in the city. Its narrow streets hide within them gems like galleries, boutiques, cafes, and an abundance of history. With every turn you stumble upon a new discovery, a beautiful detail, a furry cat.
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
In the middle of the neighborhood, you can suddenly find the "Suzan Dalal" center - an old girls' academy turned theater and dance school. There, when you look around, you can see the beach - your way out of the maze.
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
Neve Tsedek, photo by Juliette Gold
And again, in short, this is Neve Tsedek:
Neve Tsedek as a maze, model by Juliette Gold
How do you define a maze? Have you ever been to one?
While I was browsing through Fashion Week's recap on Vogue, I stumbled upon Armani's Fall 2012 Couture collection. This collection was inspired by nightfall, and blues and grays played an ample tole in it. This piece, which was the first garment on the runway, fits the concept perfectly.
When I was twelve, I declared that I wanted to become an architect. I contemplated a 12-year long plan in my head, and I refused to stir from it in either direction. And, according to what my mom tells me, I was a real B about it as well. I was a little, annoying stubborn mule, who lived by the mantra "either build or die". As I became older, and luckily a teensy bit wiser, I started re-evaluating my decision. After exposing myself to other fields and possibilities, and falling in love with them as well, I decided to aspire for a goal, rather than gallop to a narrow dot [please note the stubborn mule reference].
"Juliette Goal":
I want my work to affect and inspire people
I want diversity; I want to focus on a new project or a new theme every now and then.
I don't want my work to be
monotonous
I want to visit new places and experience new things as part of my work
I want to challenge myself and make myself think
Architecture fits that outline. But so do many other fields. I know that I want to build, but now I see a whole array of ways to get to that point. So if I am no longer a mule ... perhaps I could be a ... bird?
On the Castelbajac event a journalist walked up to me, and asked to take my picture for a fashion column. Playing it cool, and concealing my excitement under a "oh-well-it-happens-to-me-all-the-time"-implying "OK" I posed for my photo. A week later, the photo was posted at the Art section of Haaretz Newspaper [aka, one of the eminent publications in Israel]
There is absolutely nothing to watch. You have already read the news on your i-something; you have seen that movie a hundred times; and that episode of this show is outright idiotic. What, oh what, shall you do with your unpleasing TV set? Make a storage unit out of it of course!
Back in the 50's, the Television set promised family bonding and quality time with loved ones. Nowadays, only half a decade later, it carries separation, silence, and alienation. We re-watch shows on autopilot, but are we experiencing anything? Are we living life?
"Turn Off the TV Storage Unit", a design by Juliette Gold
"Turn Off the TV Storage Unit", a design by Juliette Gold
The model uses the figure of the 50's TV set - which was rectangular, stood on four thin legs, and had antennas. The visual compounds of the design (the colors, and the polka-dots print) also refer to the vintage vibe. When choosing colors, I opted for vibrant, statement-making hues. But tried to maintain visual harmony by going for opposing colors on the color wheel.
Drawing by Juliette Gold
What do you think about our TV-watching society? Do you consider watching TV a quality past-time?
Background:
Last night, on Tuesday June 26th to be exact, the thrilling
interdisciplinary fashion designer Jean-Charlesde Castelbajac lectured at BeitHa'ir ("City House"), TelAviv.
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac at Beit Ha'ir, Tel Aviv, photo by Juliette Gold
It
was 20:30 p.m. on a warm, summery Tuesday night. There was peace and quiet on
the Bialic Square
at TelAviv … outside at least. Inside, magic was
happening! Girls with colorful hair, guys with fans, photographers, bloggers,
designers and curators all gathered up in one place. The music was cool; the
dimmed lighting was cool; the walls were cool; Castelbajac was cool; and
according to him, the crowd (that would us) was also cool!
The walls of the Beit Ha'ir museum, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac at Tel Aviv, photo source: Castelbajac's Facebook Page
Seasoning
it with humor and fun, Castelbajac explained his vision of creativity. He told
us about his childhood, his past, and the sources of his inspiration. Jean-Charlesde
Castelbajac was born in 1950 inCasablanca,
Morocco and a few years
later his family moved to France. There, he was
sent to a boarding school where he stayed until the age of 17. He confessed of
being quite unhappy in boarding school. However, with his spectacular life
perspective, he was empowered by his situation.
{ He
built his imagination on wound, his creativity on failure and his strength on
loneliness. }
During
his years in boarding school he developed his fascination with color. When all
of his classmates kept their chocolaty treasures in identical wooden boxes, he
asked his mother for a blue plastic box. Even though his candies have all gone
bad in the sealed container, the color and individuality gave him hope. He kept
that unique, colorful, and extraordinary child with him throughout the 40 years
of his career.
Since
one should never conclude a day without learning something new, I bring to you the
summery of all the new content that now inhabits my brain:
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac at Beit Ha'ir, Tel Aviv, photo by Juliette Gold
Don't
be afraid of failure:
At
the age of 17, Castelbajac graduated from boarding school. With no experience,
no diploma, and zero desire of becoming a fashion designer, he started working
for his mother, who owned a fashion business. Yet, instead of reveling in
self-pity Castelbajac became … well, Castelbajac.
{
"There's emotion in things we don't achieve" ~ Jean-Charlesde Castelbajac}
Open
your eyes:
He
finds his inspiration in things that people don't see, in the everyday life, in
accidents. His advice - look around yourself. Inspiration is everywhere.
Have
a clear say:
Each
collection he creates has its own manifesto, a distinct saying. His current
line, for instance, deals with "Dystopia". Castelbajac says that
Dystopia describes our time – the rapid existence in which we abandon
traditions and forget old beliefs.
{ "you
don't just buy a piece of clothing. You buy a philosophy, an idea". }
In
a fashion show, Castelbajac said, the first garment on the runway sets the tone
of the entire show. When his whole collection is complete, he spends hours in
the studio pondering on the selection process.
Laugh
at yourself:
After
his divorce, Castelbajac created a double poncho that had a zipper in the
middle.
Learn
from others:
Castelbajac
says he absolutely can't work alone. He has to be in a studio and around
people. Theirs is always something we can learn from others. Their perspectives
are contributive, not disturbing.
Last
and most important: Stay true to yourself:
Even
though that during the 90's grunge era, Castelbajac's colorful and poppy
designs lacked popularity, he remained loyal to his aesthetic. Surprisingly
enough, since his clothes were sold on sales and in cheap department stores,
they became popular among the rising NY rappers. Now, JZ has a collection of
these then-disapproved sweats and they are sold for thousands of dollars on
e-bay!
{
" What you do can have more than one life. It's about whether you're
sincere or not." ~ Jean-Charlesde Castelbajac}
What
do you think about his work and his life perspective? What is your favorite
piece from the latest collection?
