theo jones unfolds julian assange's home of diplomatic containment

using a combination of 3D printed and cardboard parts, architectural designer theo jones has created a ‘diplomat’s jacket’ to reflect the story and experience of julian assange while he has been in diplomatic containment. during his political asylum, the journalist lived inside the ecuadorean embassy in london for over 6 years and this project maps out the rooms of the knightsbridge building which assange occupied.

all images courtesy of theo jones

based on the limited information about the apartment assange occupied, jones has designed the jacket as a ‘diplomatic bag’ holding a collection of rooms that can be folded up, hidden, and transported with diplomatic immunity. this includes the street facing balcony, the only external space assange could access, and a series of domestic rooms, some of which are shared with the ecuadorian embassy staff.

the single floor apartment that houses the ecuadorian embassy, is ecuadorian territory. while assange was inside with asylum, the space offered him an island of protection. inside the jacket, this apartment is folded down – allowing the miniature assange to be secretly moved whilst remaining within the territory of ecuador that protected him. the project by theo jones imagines assange no longer trapped at a fixed location in knightsbridge, but now with a protected escape route to ecuador or another refuge. 

the basis of this project’s concept was the idea of a ‘diplomatic bag’ or ‘pouch’, which is the vessel used for transporting official correspondence. due to the exact type of information that may be carried, the physical concept of a diplomatic bag is flexible and may be many different shapes and sizes, while still gaining legal protection. theo jones is an architectural designer, maker, founder of taxonomy and teaches as founder of green mat workshop. he is currently researching architectures in the context of the internet, geopolitics and borders. 

project info:

project name: ‘unfolding julian assange’s home of diplomatic containment’

design: theo jones

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom