TEXTILE ARCHITECTURE

How Textile Architecture has revolutionized

the World of Architecture across the globe

Textile forms of habitation have a long history going back to palaeolithic times and

represent an archetypal form of building which has endured to the present day. Textiles

are light, easy to convert or dismantle, and they provide protection against wind, ultra-

violet rays and rain. Modern architecture has rediscovered the principle of the tent as an

architectural form and taken its development further – not just for temporary structures

but also for permanent buildings. Advanced and durable fabrics enable large areas to be

spanned, which has turned their use into a highly specialised sector within the

construction industry.

Serpentine Sackler Gallery by Zaha Hadid Architects

A former gunpowder store of severe Palladianism transformed for public use and adorned

with pavilion of curvy splendor. Distinction rather than

architectural assimilation at Zaha Hadid Architects'

Serpentine Sackler Gallery, opening up the existing listed

building towards the surrounding lushness of Kensington

Gardens.

Its airy atmosphere is

partly due to the choice of

construction method and

materials, applying a tensile

structure of glass-fiber

woven textile. The

membrane is part of the loadbearing structure and

rests on five interior columns and a perimeter ring

beam, the latter touching the ground at three

points. Like sliced-open trunks, the columns also

function as interior light wells. A curved frameless

glass wall connects ground, edge beam, and fabric

roof. Columns and the glass wall contribute to

making the interior appear bright and accessible. A

cellular Voronoi pattern is used for the layout of tables, banquets, and chairs.

The DAR LUZ project by Lars Meeß-Olsohn and Ali Heshmati

The DAR LUZ project by Lars Meeß-Olsohn

and Ali Heshmati was one of the installations

at a recent light art walkway in Eindhoven,

where the textile skin operated as a projection

screen for staging a dynamically controlled

light show. A number of sensors detected the

movements of visitors and transmitted these to

the LED spotlights which responded with

individually changing color sequences and

intensity of lighting effects.

Urban Umbrella’ by Young-Hwan Choi - The Urban Shed

A tensile structure of glass-fiber woven textile.

'Tubaloon' by Snohetta

'Tubaloon' is the name given by the architects Snohetta to the 20 m x 40 m pneumatic

membrane sculpture which was created for the Kongsberg jazz festival in Norway. The

combination of a stretched membrane with a pneumatic design is the special feature of the

Tubaloon: stretched membrane

structures have exterior structural

parts but in the case of the Tubaloon the static structure is located like a skeleton inside the

pneumatic shell. This gives the structure a body-like, organic look. Every year the Tubaloon is

set up and dismantled once more and so a white, PVC-coated PVC-PES polyester membrane

by Ferrari was selected because of its hardwearing properties and its suitability for projection

and acoustic purposes.

The Chinese National Aquatic Center, aka Watercube

Energy efficient

and eco-friendly buildings like these stadiums are surely becoming the norm. Additionally,

these structures haven taken cues from nature and bio mimicry. The Watercube’s design is

based on water bubbles in foam, and while it may seem random, this structure is derived

from principles of geometry and crystaline systems. The building’s structure is framed in

steel, while the bubbles themselves are made from ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene)

pillows

measuring

0.2 mm

thick. The

membrane

lets in

more light

and heat

than

traditional

glass does,

which

keeps all 5 pools warmer, thus reducing energy costs

by 30%. Rainwater from the roof is collected and

recycled with efficient filtration and backwash systems,

and an incredible LED lighting system turns the Watercube into a beautiful kaleidoscope at

night.

HABITAT 2020: Future Smart ‘Living’ Architecture

The Habitat 2020 building is envisioned for China, and radically alters our perception of a structure’s surface. The exterior has been designed as a living skin, rather than a system of inert materials used only for construction and protection. The skin behaves like a membrane which serves as a connection between the exterior and interior of the habitat. Alternatively, the skin may be considered as the leaf surface having several stomata, cellular openings involved in gaseous exchange and transpiration in plants.

The surface would allow the entry of light, air and water into the housing. It would automatically position itself according to the sunlight and let in light; thus electricity for lighting would not be needed during the day. The air and wind would be channeled into the building and filtered to provide clean air and natural air-conditioning. The active skin would be capable of rain water harvesting where water would be purified, filtered, used and recycled. The skin could even absorb moisture from the air. The waste produced would be converted into biogas

energy that could be put to diverse uses in the habitat.

The Swiss pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai EXPO

A textile facade in the extended sense covered the Swiss pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai EXPO

– a steel net made of galvanised wire strands with a diameter of four millimetres made by the

firm of Carl Stahl formed the 3,800 m2 and 15 m high facade, which was fitted with 11,000

cells made of sustainable polycarbonate that generated electricity by means of solar

technology.

The same steel netting by the name of X-TEND was also used for covering the aviary of the

Loro Parque in Tenerife. The rolls of steel netting can be manufactured to any required length

and the individual sections can also be joined crosswise to an unlimited extent without

detracting from the strength of the netting.

Tahari Showroom, New York

Cloth is the material from which the Elie Tahari fashion company designs exclusive creations

- and cloth is also the design element with which Gisela Strohmeyer has converted an

uninspiring room without any daylight into an elegant showroom.

For the presentation of the collection and for cupboards large, semi-oval openings were cut

into the swatches of material. A column at the center of the almost square room supports two

different types of fabric, one of them transparent and the other opaque. The backlit sections of

cloth are not sewn together but connected by a large number of hooks. As a result the

swatches of cloth are only attached to each other at specific points, which visually highlight

the elasticity of Lycra as a material and has the positive aspect that the sections of cloth can be

taken apart again. The installation is also fastened to the walls and ceiling by hooks, while on

the floor it is held in place by movable weights. When the textile elements are no longer

required they can be folded up and stored compactly in a cupboard. In addition the fabrics

are machine washable.

Architonic Concept Space at Imm cologne 2008

For the Architonic Concept Space at imm cologne 2008 it wasn't a sub-tropical but an arctic

landscape which was created. The architects Lava designed umbrellas on which drifting ice

floes were projected. The amorphous aluminum umbrellas were covered with a transparent

membrane which was cut to size using CNC technology in cooperation with the Australian

firm of Global Membrane Designs.

SERGE FERRARI COMPOSITE MEMBRANE

Its structural characteristics are complemented by highly effective resistance to dirt and aging resulting from Serge Ferrari's expertise in PVDF-based surface treatments.

Lightweight and durable, Pré contraint composite membranes are also 100% recyclable based on the Serge Ferrari Texyloop® process.

PVDF, Polyvinylidene fluoride, is a specialty plastic material in the fluoropolymer family; it is used generally in applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases and heat and low smoke generation during a fire event. Compared to other fluoropolymers, it has an easier melt process because of its relatively low melting point of around 177 °C.

The Cloud Auckland waterfront, New Zealand The Cloud is a multipurpose infrastructure located in the historic Queen’s Wharf area of the

Auckland waterfront. An ultra-modern ephemeral building, which was built for the 2011

Rugby World Cup and

received the LSAA*

Design Award 2011. A

true economic and

cultural showcase

during the event, the

Cloud was designed to

be removable,

transportable and re-

deployable after the

competition.

As famous now as the Sky tower or the Waitemata Harbour bridge, the Cloud is characterised

by a pureness and aesthetic delicacy only possible through the lightness of Serge Ferrari

composite materials.

The 180 m long structure is covered by a Précontraint 1002 Fluotop T2 flexible composite.

During the day, the composite membrane reflects heat and its translucence optimizes natural

light diffusion. At

night, the material

reveals the play and

movements of light,

transforming the

building into a

distinctive luminous

landmark.

The building’s

southern end is lined

with Précontraint 502

composite material, which conceals the reinforcement and steel frames and gives the final

touch to the cloud shape created by the roof.

Inside, Soltis 92 micro-aerated membrane clads the 500 m2 ceiling of the mezzanine reserved

for the media and VIPs during the Rugby World Cup. Flexible, light and robust, Soltis 92

allowed many HVAC technical components to be safely incorporated: the material conserved

all its strength and aesthetic qualities.

An additional advantage was its sound absorption performance characteristics, which

contributed to enhancing the structures acoustic environment.

The facade of a company building in Vienna The facade of a company building in Vienna has been fitted with a total of 104 sails which on

the one hand protect the building from the sun and on the other act as architectural cladding

on the closed side of the building. The vertical sails were produced in hypar shape from the

Soltis 86 material made by Ferrari, also PVC-coated polyester.

The Soltis material is produced using pre

constraint technology. During

manufacturing both the warp and the weft

yarn is pre-stressed and then coated. This

guarantees a high level of surface stability

and is a precondition for ensuring adequate

wind resistance, which can only be

guaranteed if the sails neither expand nor

contract in response to changes in

temperature. Soltis is UV-resistant and is available not just with perforations of varying sizes

and the corresponding variable transmittance but also in a range of different colors.

Royal Artillery Barracks Olympics-2012.Woolwich, UK Royal Artillery Barracks Olympics-2012 Woolwich, UK. Olympic Shooting Venue by Magma

Architecture - temporary building made with Serge Ferrari composite membranes.

Pavilion Germany EXPO Shanghai 2010 -Shanghai, China

Pavilion Germany EXPO Shanghai 2010 | Shanghai, China | Serge Ferrari composite membrane

building enveloppe | Architect: Schmidhuber + Kaindl (Munich).

Cardiff Bay Car Park Cardiff Bay Car Park by Light Bureau Architects who chose

Serge Ferrari flexible composite membrane for this amazing

facade.

Playground Wellington New Zealand Covered Playground Wellington New Zealand.

Mumbai Airport

Lekhwiya Sports Stadium, Doha Qatar

Waterpolo Arena Olympics 2012 London UK

Metro Station Santiago, Chile

London Aquatics Center Olympics 2012, London UK

Covered Bridge, Dazhou,

China

Yatch Marina, Turkmenistan

Shanghai Meteo Pavilion

Shanghai Space Pavilion

Tallinn, Estonia

Designed by Allianss Arhitektid, Tallinn, Estonia, that wraps the building with colorful patterns and designs inspired by traditional national women’s costumes from different parishes throughout the country. “As the pavilion was erected only for six months,” says Priit Hamer, architect and member of

the Estonian Expo design team, “we used sections of printed textile put on very simple metal shapes.” The design for the enclosure of the pavilion is surprisingly simple: irregularly shaped vertical panels formed from steel channels are fitted against a plain, box of a building to make a façade somewhat like overlapping vertical siding. Bends in the vertical edges and bulges outward from the façade add 3-D interest. Color and pattern are printed by dye sublimation on the PVC-coated polyester Soltis® 86 mesh fabric (Serge Ferrari) and stretched taut over the frames and fastened simply with flathead screws. The mesh provides micro-ventilation and allows outward visibility to visitors inside.

Ferrari Soltis 92 Shade Cloth

Soltis 92 composite screens bring together thermal and mechanical performances that

guarantee the efficiency, durability and good looks of your facilities :

• Being real heat shields they contribute to improved energy performance in buildings.

• a guarantee of optimal glare-free visibility on to the outside

• resistance and dimensional stability, plus the Serge Ferrari Précontraint exclusive patented

technology that gives a thin, lightweight product.

• Soltis 92 offers a large choice of 50 colors to increase technical and aesthetic solutions:

to adapt to the aspect of the façade.

• 100 % recyclable using the patented process Texyloop®

Offers the best Solar Protection - up to 97 percent protection.

Resists tearing without extra reinforcement - High tenacity polyester yarn

reinforcement.

Will not sag - double resistance warp and weft resists sagging.

Long lasting and dirt resistant.

Has a more closed weave than Soltis 86.

Tested for harmful substances - OKO-Tex Standard 100.

5 Year guarantee

Certified ISO 9001

100 percent recyclable

product.

Applications:

o Protection Screens

o Interior Shades

o Exterior Screens

and Shades

o Awnings &

Canopies

o Shade Sails

FABRIC: High Tenasity Polyester

FINISH: Vinyl, Flame Retardant CSFM Reg. F-06901

WIDTH: 69.7 in. (177cm)

WEIGHT: 11 oz. per sq. yard

A Real Heat Shield

Ferrari Soltis 86 textiles

have a micro-ventilation

system that regulates the

sun's heating effects.

When they are placed on

the outside of windows

they absorb and reflect

back up to 97% of the heat

contained in the sun's rays,

thereby eliminating the

greenhouse effect.

Such unveiled thermal

performance enable

reduced use of air-

conditioning in buildings. Ferrari Soltis 86 makes a strong contribution to reduced

energy expenditure, allowing better cost control of the building.

Soltis 92 screens protecting plants at the “Gardens by the Bay”

The conservatories feature astonishing specific characteristics:

• Maintain the high light levels required by the plants within, while minimizing the

associated solar heat gain inevitable in Singapore’s tropical climate

• Dynamic nature of the completed building, with shades opening and closing in response to

the changing solar environment

• Distinct curved forms of the biomes generated from the geometry of a hyperbolic curve

• Lightweight structure to minimize shadows cast onto the planting below