Textile Architecture

Recently I was gifted a very interesting book, called Textilepedia. It is considered the bible when it comes to the use of textiles as it contains every bit of useful information about almost every fabric on earth. The idea behind giving me the book was for me to feed my current obsession with fashion pattern design, however I figured it would be much more interesting to combine it with what I keep busy with on a daily basis, namely architecture.

The use of textile in architecture has actually been around for ages. Before permanent shelters, people would resort to draped animal hides and later to woven fabrics to cover their space. Because of its light weight and flexibility, it was extremely easy to use and can be considered as human’s first architectural element, as it still had the capability of keeping everything covered dry and safe. In the middle ages and renaissance, when people had more permanent shelters made of stone, textiles were often used to cover up said stone as a tapestry. First to liven up a room, but it worked greatly as a form of insulation, both thermal and acoustic. Of course, the tapestry could also show off how rich you were by the intricacy of details on the tapestry, as they were woven by hand and a lot of labour went into making them.

More recently, the works of Frei Otto are very interesting when it comes to textile architecture. The premise of his designs was that he wanted to use extremely lightweight but very strong materials, to make the best use of the newest developments in architectural construction materials. His design strategy can be called biomimicry, as his philosophy was taking notes from natural structures and functions. This resulted in the use of the lightest steel cables and membranes made out of synthetic fabrics. His best-known work is the Munich Olympic Stadium, built in 1972, where a membrane structure made from synthetic fabric and a complex collaboration between steel cables and poles covered the entire stadium. The result of this innovative roof was beautiful diffused light, weatherproofing and nice acoustics within the stadium.

Fig 1: The roof of Munich Olympic Stadium, designed by Frei Otto. From: Olympiapark München (https://www.olympiapark.de/en/the-olympic-park/park-overview/olympic-stadium)

Right now, the focus within architecture is on sustainability. Textiles are used in this as well, often in the shape of sunshades and insulation. The works of Frei Otto also still form an inspiration for architects, as membrane structures and air dome structures are being used in today's designs more and more. An innovative textile designer right now is Aleksandra Gaca, a Polish designer who often works with architecture firms to integrate textile into the designs. She works with woven fabrics, and often experiments with making the fabric three-dimensional in order to stimulate all the senses. Her works are used for interior design, both decorative and as acoustic insulation, but they have been used as exterior designs as well. Her fabric designs often form an integral part of the architectural design process.

Of course, Impermanent structures made from textiles are still very much a thing right now. For example, the military often uses tents, small for one or two people and large tents for big groups, to travel around and keep covered when needed. However, the use of fabrics as architecture on a larger scale is often seen in refugee camps. With often a lack of materials, either because of the sudden rise of a camp or because people cannot afford them, fabrics are used to help people get cover and keep themselves and their stuff safe from weather conditions.

There seems to be a promising future for textile in architecture. As it is a lightweight and sustainable material, it is already great for modern designing. However, it can be an even greater asset as new materials develop. More bio-based or recyclable fabrics can develop which will make the use of textile in architecture more appealing. But with technology still advancing, you can think greater. Smart textiles might be a thing of the future. They could be used to make interactive and dynamic exteriors to make a responsive architectural design. Textile has always been an integral part of architectural design. It has proven to be able to adapt to the newest developments and surely will be in the future. 

 

Literature
[1] Coppens, T. (2000). Vlaamse wandtapijten in Mechelen en Brussel. theracoppens.nl. 
[2] Fabric Architecture. (2023, 2 mei). Frei Otto: Pioneering Architecture and the Munich Olympic Stadium. fabricarchitecture.com.
[3] Gattupalli, A. (2025, 13 januari). How Textiles Shaped Architecture: Prehistoric Structures for Modern Buildings. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/1025601/how-textiles-shaped-architecture-prehistoric-structures-for-modern-buildings 
[4] Glaeser, L. (1972). The work of Frei Otto. The Museum of Modern Art. https://assets.moma.org/documents/moma_catalogue_2662_300299029.pdf 
[5] Harvie, G. (2012, 25 juni). The history of fabric structures. designing buildings.co.uk. 
[6] Olympiapark Münich. (z.d.). Olympic Stadium. Olympiapark.de.