DIOR MEN PRE-FALL 2023 SHOW
A SHOW FOR THE AGES
Against the backdrop of the Giza Pyramids – the last standing Wonder of the Ancient World – luxury fashion house Dior showcased its Pre-Fall 2023 menswear collection last December 3, 2022. The blockbuster show was the first ever fashion event to be staged in front of this historical setting where artistic director Kim Jones presented his spectacular ‘Celestial’ collection under a star-studded sky. The show ended with a live, Max Richter orchestra performance only to kick off the after-party for more than 1000 guests in front of the mythical monuments.
FROM PAST TO FUTURE
In collaboration with premier special event company Villa Eugénie, carlos moubarak architect was commissioned the set design of the show which was informed by the majestic site and Jones' futuristic collection “guided by the stars” and inspired by his "fascination with the ancient world". Designed as a land art project, the linear structure unfolds in the desert of Giza with a minimalist expression to achieve a timeless architecture and thus do justice to the site and resonate with the spirit of the place. With a nearly 300 front row seating and a crowd of more than 1000 in total, the guests at the Dior show were seated facing the 4500-year-old Pyramids while the models made their way on an illuminated path in a spectacular display that intertwined heritage with fashion in an iconic moment.
TOUR DE FORCE
The backstage & service building consisted of a 205m long, 8m large and up to 15m height structure designed with a standard cuplock scaffolding system cladded in wood and fabric. The runway, the concert stage and the seating platforms were entirely built in wood while all flooring and cladding layouts were strictly based on wood panels standards to both minimize material waste and enable fast and easy installation. The integrated design approach and the developed modular construction system were crucial to achieve the landmark project delivery within the very tight construction timeframe while staying true to the initial vision and keeping up with the project’s high-level requirements. In addition to the conceptual design, carlos moubarak architect was in charge of project delivery and construction phase management on this ultra-fast-track design-and-build program of 7700sqm in total built up areas with barely 3 weeks for execution. While all construction materials were intentionally sourced locally, all the temporary structure's components dismantled after the show were set to be either reused, recycled, upcycled or donated to local NGOs.
SHOW IMAGES © DIORSITE WORKS IMAGES © CARLOS MOUBARAK ARCHITECT