red thread – red bar

ilpasseraparici

2016
art & architecture residency
[Haubourdin – Nord]
organised by Haubourdin’s council
work as part of the Hopscotch collective
project’s blog

Red thread-red bar is a series of participative urban interventions resulting from a four-month architecture residency in the former industrial town of Haubourdin.

The residency aimed to establish a connection between residents and the Ferme du Bocquiau, a future cultural center.

This connection has been symbolically represented by a red line installed throughout the city, echoing the traditional red and white striped walls of the heritage building. The walls of this building were built in the fourteenth century using a method, unique to the area, which alternated layers of red bricks and white chalk stripes. This method, called Rouge-Barre (or ‘Red-Bar’), gave its name to this project.

P1000610

The installation forms a visual link between the Ferme du Bocquiau, and the different areas of the city, which are disconnected from each other like independent islands. It also symbolises the human link formed by the inhabitants’ sense of conviviality and sharing, as well as the link that has been formed through their coming together as part of this project to make the red thread.

About 600 residents were involved in the creation of the red thread. Different crafting techniques were used, such as weaving, knitting, knotting, crocheting and sewing, as a reference to the local industrial history.

All the techniques used a synthetic netting, commonly employed for storing agricultural produce. Weaving was mainly used, as a reference to the local industrial history. It was carried out on the ‘Red-Bar’, a mobile weaving loom built with the help of a local joiner.

IMG_3846 P1010321P1010957 gif-jedenfant

* Making Red-Bar with the Red-Bar *

We were able to make 95.7 metres of red thread with the Red Bar, our mobile weaving loom, thanks to more than 500 honorary weavers whom we met as we were taking the machine on a 23.3 km expedition through the city.

P1010971

P1010609IMG_4364 P1020347 P1020171

Red-line-segment 1  :  * Textile roots *

The first red thread section was made by a local association, following a patchwork pattern. It indicates the path beyond the level crossing which cuts the city into two halfs, and marks the first of a series of ancient weaving workshop-houses.

P1030437 copyP1020022

Red-line-segment 2 :  * Pass the Deûle *

65 meters of Red-Thread made with the Red-Bar visually cross the Deûle River, one of the main barrier which divide the city from North to South.

P1020954 P1020984

Red-line-segment 3 :  * Go along the Mail *

More than 175 meters of red thread follow and mark the Mail du bon pêcheur, a hidden and intimate path.

P1020996 P1030411

Red-line-segment 4 :  *  lnhabit the Red-Thread *

During 5 workshops with the youth club, we worked more deeply on playful versions of the red thread, fashioning it into objects in which it was possible to stay, rest or play for a while… Among the many ideas proposed by the teenagers, we created together a large hammock, a cocoon, and a net.

 IMG_4104DSCF3847 P1010273

Red-line-segment 5 :  * Cross the garden *

Knitted without needles and woven on the Red-Bar by the pupils of the local art course, the Red-Thread leads through the Public Garden, along the main road dividing Haubourdin from East to West.

P1030307 P1030321

Red-line-segment 6 :  * Red-Bar reinterpretation *

Our own rouge-bar version installed on the avenue of trees leading to the Ferme du Bocquiau.

P1030155 P1030326P1030163

* Final Party *

The residency was concluded by several interactive walking tours, passing in front of the different installations. To finish, all the residents were invited to a party organised by the council in front of the Ferme du Bocquiau.

P1030528DSCF2642 P1030537 DSCF3863