Paige Sargent

Menstrual Health is still an invisible topic in the UK where those who menstruate must deal with a natural part of life in silence. Menstrual stigmas, lack of gender equity, sparse research, lack of education, medical gaslighting, and worst of all period poverty, society has been embedded with an endless list of negative outlooks on the topic for decades affecting millions of people. Therefore, a huge opportunity for change in correcting and connecting those who bleed to be the change for an equal society.

‘Period’ will be the first menstrual health retail installation in collaboration with charity ‘Bloody Good Period’. This travelling pop-up installation will set out to challenge current taboos surrounding periods while supporting and educating those who will or are menstruating on the correct period perspective. By implementing three key themes, Educate, Support and Health & Wellbeing to give the space framework to provide the best outcomes that encourage interaction and positive menstrual health awareness that influences change.

IMAGE: RENDERED 3D MODEL LOOKING ONTO THE INTERACTIVE 28 DAY CYCLE PLAY AREA PAD THAT ALLOWS PRE TO PRO MENSTRUAL CHILDREN TO LEARN AND EXPLORE HOW THE PERIOD CYCLE WORKS

The concept of Period is to travel around the UK bringing awareness to menstrual health and the importance of allowing menstruators of all ages to learn, protect and reconnect themselves and others with a new period perspective. Period is a pop-up charity installation associated with ‘Bloody Good Period’ that encompasses a range of interactive, educational retail spaces that offers a playful insight for all ages of menstruation to get the positive conversations flowing.

IMAGE: RENDERED 3D MODEL LOOKING INTO FLOW WORKSHOP SPACE THAT OFFERS USERS A CHANCE TO LEARN AND MAKE THEIR OWN SUSTAINABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS

Inspired by the mythical Greek goddess Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, was known as a powerful protector of innocent women and helpless infants. Similarly, I will create a centre to protect and heal women who have fallen victim to domestic abuse by implementing three key themes; Heal, Community, and Defend to give women the groundwork to heal the mind, body, and soul. This centre will aim to regain and embed the confidence and skills needed to protect herself, children, and women alike. Thus, Artemis.

IMAGE: RENDERED 3D MODEL LOOKING INTO ARTEMIS WALLED GARDEN FROM ENTRANCE

Taking inspiration from castles and their structural protection layers to translate my design thoughts, this directed the design starting points for layered forms through the use of the host building and the new inserted element to increase the protection of women.

The design was developed by inserting a new modular structure element into the centre of the host site to allow women the freedom to roam outside the Artemis centre still protected by the host building and controlled and overlooked by the new insertion. By removing the core of the new structure to create a courtyard space that offers new openings and pathways to look onto the ‘heart’ of the community and the central protection point for women.

IMAGE: RENDERED 3D MODEL OF THE 'HEART' MULTIFUNCTIONAL COURTYARD - DINNER TIME