Model of site

Narrative and definitive...

A smallpox outbreak has occurred – a state of frenzy has begun. In attempting to prevent the spread of smallpox from person-to-person contact through the lesions formed due to the disease, I have created a covering that goes from the knee to the foot. This product will focus on athletes who are prone to smallpox but still might train but the catch is – they are training barefoot. Smallpox + barefoot=not a good idea due to spread of smallpox by its lesions.

Pros and cons of running barefoot…

barefoot

barefoot running - LA Times

barefoot running, pdf

foot posture running barefoot/with shoes

After thinking, there are two ways to about this – a preventive device or a protective walking device. Should it focus on athletes who don’t like shoes and would like to run barefoot? Should it be protecting a person from catching smallpox or already be a device that gives comfort to those who have smallpox while walking? I think the characteristics of this device will be flexible, comfort, and lasting. Some kind of stretchy material that will last and be breathable to the foot will be sought after.

Running barefoot can change the posture of how your foot lands – forefront/rear foot/mid foot
Canvas might be too inflexible, perhaps some kind of rubber material? And also since this device is mainly for walking/running purposes, I will focus on areas of the foot most affected depending upon which of the two ways (mentioned above) I choose.

Perhaps creating a hard yet soft & firm sole on the covering to help support the foot will help. As far as materiality goes, I figured that canvas will be a flexible enough material to use but sturdy and not as permeable as regular fabric. I’m contemplating a second material that will help support the canvas – maybe rubber of some kind, reminds me of Vibram five fingers, pictured below.

In addition, picture of site soon to come...after a visit with gesso to make it smoother (:

Research on smallpox

Research done on smallpox

Beginning thoughts

This blog serves as a documentation of 2nd semester of architecture at LSU. Project 1 focuses on choosing a disaster agent and developing a protective device for a specific site on the body. I chose smallpox and will focus on the area of knee to foot. This device is not to prevent smallpox but in the case that smallpox breaks out and is a means to protect others from contracting the disease that a person has. I will build the site out of plaster and start exploring different materials that has characteristics of flexibility and something that is permeable but doesn't contaminate others who are in contact with the person that is wearing it.