Overview

The studio assigned a precedent analysis of a skyscraper in Manhattan. My precedent was the One World Trade Center. We were then tasked with translating our precedent into a Wearable Architecture. Given the defensive and political nature of my precedent I created a deployable riot shield from scrap metal.

Background

This project is my entry into metal working. I’m not sure how or why but I ended up in the shop learning how to MIG weld of all things. The brutal and unrelenting nature of this welding was fitting for the subject matter. What I did not expect was how this project played out and what it became. This was a point in my life where everything was changing. I was in my second semester of university. I had a violent maelstrom of conflicting ideas swirling around inside of my head. I was changing. I met someone very close to me. I was learning to express my ever eluding thoughts via objects. I was breaking under the pressure of university. I wasn’t the only one. This someone had to seek hospitalization for the damage. I met them at the hospital. They were going to a facility. I helped them into the van and they were gone. I started crying. I couldn’t take the bus back like this. I walked back in the rain and dark along the highway to the studio. I sang as I cried. I shut myself off and welded this project. I don’t remember most of it.