The starting point of this research is the notion of habitat. What are the objects and acts that makes that we take possession of a place ? How to convert a space into a place ? The « living place » is built through the personal experience. Anywhere in the world, a habitat is composed by 4 elements : a roof, a mound, a hearth and an enclosure. You can find these elements in a hut or a tipi, a house or even in a building.
Inspired by « The Four Elements of Architecture » written by the german art historian Gottfried Semper in the 19th century, I developed 4 tracks. These 4 tracks leads to 4 objects that allows to take possession of the space. These objects do not tend to respond to the habitat in a functional way but more in its symbolical aspects. The textile here works like a construction tool. Far from just being simply a surface composition, the textile lies at the center of the object (in its shape and use), it is the essence of it.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a7668d895b042be7e25b922463fc80085cc4a21033dc05eecfb9a9762da0883/Intro-GaranceMaurer2019.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3b5fd75ba2722d2a0d938144c3258fcf9d3bb4ad795aadc5099d6cd50575005d/SEMPER-INGOLD.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8a46cd7da8d27da1991ce0c839591fa025c30550a60e1b3d32945c9f2271a457/habitat-textile-ds-le-monde-copie.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/054af5f4ebb3c321994bd1c6120de1d7060035d4b343f009941da28807927e12/branches-brosses.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b9e546d22430da9a24cfc71a90ce2119992bd048d661f78152294b8b64ee0ffb/collection-brosses-garnacem.jpg)
-The roof is converted into a canvas that protect: light, resistant and adaptable according to the needs and to the terrain on which we are.
-The mound is a carpet that can host life and its differents moments : it presents three parts according to the spaces and activities that can be found in a habitat (a threshold, a central part and a comfortable part that surrounds the whole).
-For me the enclosure is the limit between the outside and the domestic space. Therefore I designed a range of brushes for domestic activity. The gesture drawn by the brush, participates in the ritual of the cleaning/caring and thus to the construction of the domestic space feeling.
-The hearth is the fire that warms the place and bring light, around which people gather. Here it’s an oil lamp with a visible and delicate textile wick and modular glass elements containing the vegetal oil.
Explore the different tracks :
︎the roof is a sail
︎the mound is a carpet
︎not an enclosure, but brushes
︎oil lamps that makes us feeling home
Diploma project presented June 6th if 2018 at ENSCI-Les Ateliers.
Under the direction of the designer Jean-Baptiste Fastrez.
Mention for innovation.
Photos : Garance Maurer
ENSCI-Les Ateliers, 2018