RECIPRO[FRAME]
Fashion Meets Architecture [FMA] | Program: Backdrop Installation | 40 lf x 10 ft
Austin, Texas | October 2016
Collaboration with partner and co-founder, Cara Warren
I’m a person who really wants to respect everyone and every culture, but unfortunately,
I ended up breaking all the Taboos. I am most of the time a person enjouée, and I always make
people laugh, but in the other hand, I fear crowds and most importantly, I love to surprise people.”
--Rocky Gathercole , Metrovelvet 2011
Drawing from the intricacy of garment designs by world-renowned fashion designer, Rocky Gathcercole, the concept for this installation was to use simple methods to create complex forms. Bamboo, a readily available material in Austin, where the show took place, was harvested and used to create four nested increasing in size modules that interlock to create a reciprocal structure. Each module is fastened with sisal rope clover hitch knots. In order to provide height and frame the models as they entered the runway, the reciprocal structures were rotated 90 degrees and suspended from a concrete masonry unit foundation filled with gravel. Additional screening from bamboo branches was also provided.
Rocky Gathercole's A-list of clients
Inspirational designs from Rocky Gathercole
Study models of a reciprocal frame
A reciprocal frame is a class of self-supporting structure made of three or more beams and which requires no center support to create roofs, bridges or similar structures. Thinking about how we can develop the fastest and easiest structure possible that can be self-supported, bamboo played our friend in creating a vertical structure that would act as a screening or backdrop element. Each module was made with one “hashtag” frame with three “3-prong” frames.
Plan, Elevation and Axon of Reciproframe
“hashtag” frame:
(2) 6’-0”
(2) 3’-0”
“3 prong” frame:
(2) 6’-0”
(1) 3’-0”
8” x 8” x 8” cmu
4” x 16” x 8” cmu
x 10
x 30
x 40
x 16
= 180 lf bamboo
= 450 lf bamboo
= 40 cmu
= 16 cmu
Quantity Takeoff
Rendering of Backdrop
Construction Process
We could easily develop a quantity take off analysis of how many linear feet on bamboo was needed. Each module required approximately 63 linear feet of bamboo, with 48 linear feet of sisal rope to produce the clover-hitch knots.All together since the bamboo was essentially free, the backdrop structure ended up costing less than $100 in materials. The time dedicated to design, prefabricate and install the backdrop took around 80 hours. That left my partner and me some time at the end to walk the runway!
