Present in several places at the same time.

Chronophotography helped revealing the actual path of the body movement and the invisible lines between the body and space.

1 of 11

Split

Henry was hit by a meteorite that shifted his body 91 cm from his physical self. He started questioning his body relationship with the surrounding. The meteorite as an unforeseen event is similar to Covid-19. Thus questioning the effect it will leave on our relationship with the surrounding environment.

2 of 11

Project Site - Guest Space.

3 of 11

One Minute sculpture

Engaging the body with the guest space against in unconventional ways to enhance the user's spatial awareness.

4 of 11

Finger Extensions

Reconstructing the body through movement techniques, technology and costumes

5 of 11

6 of 11

Costume as an Extension to the body.

7 of 11

Site Specific Costume

Using body movement as an inspiration for costume making. This costume will enhance both the internal and external bodily awareness.

8 of 11

Inflatable Costumes

Designing a moving/changing costume in relationship to a moving/changing body.

9 of 11

Experimenting with Inflatable Costumes.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Majida Khanfar is a Palestinian architect by practice. She completed an interior design master’s degree at the Glasgow School of Art. She finished her BA in Architectural Engineering at Birzeit University in Palestine. After graduating, Majida was exploring the fundamentals of a creative environment for designers and artist to breach conventional boundaries. Accordingly, indulged herself in several experiences with open environments to practice art and experimental design in order to perceive its limitless medium and challenge her imagination and creativity. Majida had the privilege to participate in various international workshops in Italy, France, UK and Jordan, which gave her exposure and in-depth knowledge of art and design in diverse contexts.

Majida has always been passionate in the formulation and manipulation of space without any constraints to highlight the profound power that architecture beholds and its capability to change people’s perception towards space. Her master thesis was inspired by a short film named ‘Split’ in which the main character, Henry, is hit by a meteorite that shifted his body 91 cm from his physical self (Clapin, 2008). In the shot film, Henry starts questioning his body relation with the surrounding space and objects. It was quite captivating how human body proportions ultimately rely on the space and the objects utilized regularly. The meteorite as an unforeseen event is similar to Covid-19 lockdown, therefore questioning the effects it will leave on the human body in relation to the surrounding environment.

For her thesis, Majida investigated the role of Middle Eastern residential guest space during this lockdown. The scope of her dissertation focuses on body-centred experiments to raise awareness for designers about the often neglected influence of the physical body on spaces.

The thesis seeks to rethink the conventional design process by challenging the traditional standards imposed upon the human body and its boundaries, and proposes new design methodology for adjusting, re-activating guest spaces.

‘A body occupies a place and, through movement, activates it’.
(Casey, 1990)

Below a link to GSA previous stages’ portfolios.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-EktRrqkZS1-Vusr8BjJKB1gV3vcLOAa?usp=sharing