L'Harmonie des Quartiers
Design + Video
Design + Video
Client:
Graduate project at UQÀM, l'École de design, DESS en design d'événements
Graduate project at UQÀM, l'École de design, DESS en design d'événements
Project:
Analyze and redesign the neighborhoods of Montréal. Create a manifesto, product and video that will support the concept. Project team for MTL=1 video: Catherine Gomes Aubin, Christine Kerrigan, Sarah Lutz; L'Harmonie des Quartiers video: Christine Kerrigan.
Specifics:
For a graduate design course at UQÀM (Université du Québec à Montréal), we were tasked with creating a new vision for the neighborhoods of Montréal. After talking to Montréalers and doing research in urban design, our collective, "Montréal=1" decided to reorganize the map of the city to better unite the population. Taking into account certain natural barriers and divisions that exist already, we decided to get rid of the 19 districts (arrondissements) and create 86 neighborhoods instead.
We were then each tasked to design an object which could promote this idea of creating 86 neighborhoods. I chose the umbrella as the product which could represent each neighborhood in a unique way, but also function as a collective where the whole would be greater than the sum of its parts. I created a prototype to show that each neighborhood would have both its own hand held umbrella design to promote community pride and a large scale solar umbrella for community gatherings in public spaces. Every neighborhood would then be represented in an installation of solar musical umbrellas at the center of Montréal to create a musical ensemble. Each umbrella has its own sound, but they all function together to make one harmonious composition.
Video above by the collective "Montreal=1" (Catherine Gomes Aubin, Christine Kerrigan, Sarah-Katherine Lutz)
This sketch below shows the concept for the neighborhood umbrella orchestra in the center of Montréal (Place des Arts). Each solar umbrella would represent a neighborhood in Montréal and have appropriate grahics and text inside. As the sun sets, the umbrellas are motion triggered and will light up if someone approaches. At specific times during the evening, the entire umbrella ensemble will be turned into an orchestra of music and lights. Notes and sounds will emerge from each umbrella (or neighborhood) to create one harmonious composition for Montréal.
We had an Exposition on May 14, 2014 called "Montréal Manifeste" ("Mm" for short) to share our projects with the public.
Graphic images from different neighborhoods in Montréal were projected onto an umbrella to simulate the concept. In reality, the images would be screen printed onto both the handheld umbrellas and larger solar parasols.
Solar umbrellas would serve as a place to gather, play music or simply take refuge from the rain or sun in each Montréal neighborhood. The umbrellas would charge during the day and provide electricity and light at night.
