Until the late 1990s, the heart of Thessaloniki’s clothing industry beat in Valaoritou district. An abandoned building shell is the perfect foundation to build upon a fashion creators’ hub in an attempt to restore the district’s former intensity.
Through exhaustive research the building of Freemasonry Lodge “Loge Veritas”, by the architect Jacques Mosset, was found. The facades have been declared preservable and they have to be restored up to their present state. However, the fact that the building leans near collapse made it the obvious choice for this thesis.
The project includes the restoration of the existing facades and the refurbishment to their original state. Subsequently, the new building is constructed significantly behind the historic facades in order to give the impression that it rises through the original building.
Pleating is the design practice adopted for the new facades. The finding of my dissertation led to the conclusion that pleating is a common morphogenetic method for both fashion and architecture, which is what ultimately led to its selection.
The development includes functions and uses aiming towards the creation of a contemporary multipurpose centre of innovation and entrepreneurship regarding fashion.
Finally a garment was designed following the spirit of morphological exchange between fashion and architecture, strengthening the interrelation of the two practices.
