Daria

Pride in London - Architectural Pride float Design Competition 2019

Hosted by the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and Architecture LGBT+

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Brief

Create a float to represent architecture and LGBT+ Architects at Pride in London and Manchester.

This year the LFA was exploring the theme ‘Boundaries’, the float design was open ended but had to be in the spirit of Pride.

• The float will be viewed from both the sides, the front and the back, with the Architects walking behind the float.

• The float must fit onto a flatbed truck, the truck will be: MAN/TGL 10-180 7.5 dropside truck. The flatbed to which the design must fit is: 6680 (L) and 2490 (W), the deck level of the truck is 1130mm from the ground and the top of the side panels are 1530 from the ground (400mm on all three sides). The total dimensions of the Float to fit within Pride in London requirements are: maximum 4.5m high to fit under the arches at the start of the parade, 10m long and 2.5m wide.

The float design must incorporate:

1. Speakers: there will be four speakers on the float which can be arranged in two ways: Option 1 is to put all four speakers together, and the dimensions of this arrangement is 1780h x 2040w x780mm deep. Option 2 is to stack the speakers two by two as seen in the illustration.

2. A generator, 1500mm (w) 880mm (l) 1100mm (d) by will be provided to for power, it will need to go against the headboard and contain an exhaust.

3. The float should be easy to demount, transport and reconstruct for both festivals.

4. Architecture LGBT+, the LFA and the RIBA have a combined allocation of 190 wristbands for the parade to walk with the float, these can either all walk behind the float or the float can incorporate people on board with suitable health and safety precautions. If the float design includes people on board then it needs to be safe for access and leaving the float with two handrails, including one at low level, to prevent falling. Everyone must enter the float before the parade starts and cannot leave it until the end of the parade.

5. Placards need to be designed for the walking group, designed as part of the competition. The placards will need to be prominent for Architecture LGBT+ with some placards also to include other logos. T-shirt design for Architects walking in the parade should also be included. The float will require logos, the most prominent of which needs to be Architecture LGBT+. Additional logos will need to be added in the design development stage including: LFA, RIBA, Foster & Partners and Winning team logo.

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The initial concept for the design submitted was created by me. Our team worked closely to bring together the message we wanted to share; "Building Bridges, Breaking Boundaries". We focused on achieving this by creating the imagery of infinity loops painted in the colours of various Pride flags, all connected and interlocking, creating strength in structure by supporting the loops beside their own. This message was important to us as the LGBTQIA+ community thrives when we support each other, even more so when allies add to that support.