Ephemeral Unities proposes a community-driven micro-economy in Marvila. The thesis argues that by considering Marvila as a locality and the greater city of Lisbon as complexity of flows, a more effective approach to delicate social issues emerges. The programme functions as a cycle, whereby discarded clothing or other textiles are collected, upcycled and redistributed by the exhibition of performative and mobile aerial architectures. By-products of the cycle yield organic compost from natural fibres such as linen and acoustic curtains from synthetics such as nylon, reducing the impact of both soil and noise pollution in Marvila. Mixed fibres are upcycled before being displayed {site1} and resold {sites2,3and4}. All processing and production occur at the School of Tailoring and Textile Testing Laboratories {site5}. Drawing methodologies view the entire city as a meting of skyscape and groundscape. Sequenced studies below investigate the thematics of the project. Cast hollows of the skin’s surface inform the fabric walls of the School Library, made kinetic by harnessing the wind energy of passing trains. Stored electricity travels to balustrade components (see axonometric below) through to a network of “synapse-like” silicon florets where an electromagnet is embedded. Laced with metallic thread, hanging tapestries ripple, sounding a cacophony of softly clacking magnets as the space underground “inhales” and illuminates. A language of textiles reads the qualities of three fabrics when shredded, creased, ironed and tailored. Surface studies explore the folding of test geometries, generating parametric forms. Skyscape and groundscape concepts tested throughout the year are later realised in the theatre design. Within the theatre, a virtual zoetrope is modelled and utilised as an animation set to synthesis the research project (see layered landscape drawing and film stills below).