3.3. Bangkok Fashion Hub John Gaitan

John Gaitan

My name is John Gaitan, I am currently completing a Master of Architecture at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. My current research is on the future of retailing and finding architectural solutions to the static nature of in-store shopping experiences today.

Throughout my University experience I have created smaller scale ephemeral structures. I find that not many designers have investigated the potential of Popup architecture and there ability to bring life to city centres.

The role of the architect is always changing because society itself is always changing. I think it is important to branch off into other disciplines of design to become more aware and sensitive to architecture and fundamental design principles.

I find the architecture visions competitions are an opportunity within a world scale to explore design. In particular the Bangkok Fashion Hub, and the idea of school within the city. A hub or place to learn cannot be in one place anymore, so the design explored the monumentality of a headquarters with a deployable structure which students could integrate themselves to the city. Inspiration for fashion comes from everywhere, and my proposal thought ways architecture could accommodate that.

Participating in a competition is difficult, but if you don’t challenge yourself you cannot develop as a designer or propel the profession forward. Ideas of today could potentially be spaces for tomorrow.