'additive manchester' is a project that speculates about the future of post-digital contexts in the city of Manchester. This project describes a Fashion Centre for Digital Fabrication and experimentation through additive manufacturing (a.k.a. 3D Printing), located in the cultural heart of Manchester; the Northern Quarter.
The project aims to elevate and establish Manchester as a centre for one of the many futures of the fashion and textile industries as well as to educate and encourage the public on additive manufacturing technologies.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Manchester exemplified the meaning of industrialisation. The city even took the name 'Cottonopolis', as it acquired its place as world capital of the textile industry. Workers and weavers benefitted from the continuous growth of the industry, resulting in the erection of new buildings and accommodation mostly in the Northern Quarter. The importance of the textile industry could also be found through the architecture of the windows, reminiscent of the weavers' era.
The project aims to establish Manchester as a new centre for the future of fashion and textile industries with the medium of additive manufacturing, elevating the city through a 'tribute'. The centre provide a space and platform for the public and aspiring designers to acquire knowledge, produce, create and showcase fashion and textile artefacts through the medium of 3D printing.
The 'additive manchester' centre will accommodate a wide variety of additive manufacturing technologies (a variety of different 3D printers as well as the technology in place to treat the products after printing) which will be useable to the public through a range of workshops and courses, ranging from subjects like cognitive science to designing with more sustainable materials.
The centre's entrance showcase a variety of garments made through the medium of 3D printing, by both designers and amateurs as well as a catwalk for possible fashion shows (visualised through the blue structure). The under-ground part of the building purpose a museum of additive manufacturing and a space for treatment technologies. On the other hand, the first floor of the building focus more on the educational section of the centre, providing workshops and 3D-creation program classes.
