Yasmeen Saab is a trans-disciplinary designer x Artist from Baghdad, Iraq - where Design and art are sacred elements. Surrounded by beautiful buildings and designs with variety of natural and local materials, much of her inspiration is derived from home. Fascinated by nature and the complex matrix systems found within the world, many of her designs implement entomology, biomimicry, bio-fabrication/bio-technology, low-tech and sustainable practices. In addition, creative expressions that incorporate fashion design, art, poetry, film and music. With a background in Architecture, Fabrication, Art, Bio-technology, utilizing multimodal practices to better designs capability to solve societies unique dilemmas.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH AN IDEA

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IT ALL BEGINS WITH AN IDEA ✦

SUBSTRATE

is an experimental project designed and fabricated by Kieran Renfrow and Yasmeen Saab. The project proposes a low-cost, sustainable, adaptable, moveable architectural system that provides resources, shelter, and programs to users and communities — allowing them to introduce these said elements that would be either impossible or difficult to attain otherwise. This system is based on a rulebook: being transportable, multi-functional, collapsible, amorphous, ubiquitous, accessible, sustainable, biodegradable, and arbitrary in nature so that it could highlight vernacular in the communities. The project explores the system’s adaptability in three test cities: Tokyo, Baghdad, and Makoko. All three of these sites have unique characteristics that set them apart from one another. Rigorous material and anthropological research were conducted to ensure accessibility and distinctive qualities could transpire. Recycled plastics and fabrics, re-using objects found in daily life, using scrap materials like assorted woods, metals, cloth fibers, or even synthetic materials allow for the communities to fill the panels with woven designs/elements that tell a story of who they are.

TOKYO
BAGHDAD
MAKOKO
INSIDE THE STRUCTURE
MATERIAL LIST
ASSEMBLY STEP 1
ASSEMBLY STEP 2
ASSEMBLY STEP 3

COPELANDIA

CLICK HERE TO WATCH COPELANDIA ➺

LIVE
ONE YEAR
TWENTY YEARS
ONE HUNDRED YEARS

NEGLECTED NATURE

We lived on a corner of a dangerous neighborhood

in Baghdad, the front of our house a dumping site

so bloodied bodies

were a part of my life.

I did not know any of them by name.

On February 23rd, 2006 my family received a call over breakfast. My cousin, Adnan, was a body.

He was a cameraman covering the war in Samarrah with a famous reporter. They told us “ See on the news. Make sure it’s him. Make sure it’s Adnan’s body.”

In another room, away from the screen. I prayed it would be someone else’s body. My sister screamed “It’s Adnan”.

I wanted to see. I wanted one last glance of Adnan. On the screen, he was a bloodied body.

Later, my aunt talked about burying at Wadi-Alsalam.

I was asking why burry him so far from home, they said “so Adnan remains”

I was 8, the thought of keeping his body from decaying felt right

But now, I understand there are too many bodies...