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Interior fabric
January 1st, 2011
Space articulation with fabric adds design flair with practical appeal By Carla Waldemar Heard a lot of hammering lately? Not likely. The construction industry is among the hardest hit in this bleak economy. Few housing subdivisions, office parks, megamalls or public institutions are breaking ground these days. Yet retail businesses, hospitals, colleges, exhibition arenas and […]
The cost of building fabric structures (part 2)
January 1st, 2011
Experienced professionals comment on cost estimating awnings and canopies By Mason Riddle Editor’s note: Part 1 of this two-part series on cost estimating appeared in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue. It used to be that an awning was an awning was an awning,” states Richard Forward, owner of Out West Awning Co., Colorado Springs, Colo. “But […]
Signage goes high tech
January 1st, 2011
New opportunities in building wraps combine specialty fabrics with dazzling digital effects By Mason Riddle Outdoor advertising is big business. In 2009, advertisers spent $5.9 billion on signage—and more than $3.8 billion of that was on billboards alone. As businesses seek new opportunities to make their brands stand out, the sign industry is meeting the […]
Membrane microclimate in squid capsule
January 1st, 2011
Visitors to the outdoor courtyard of Materials & Applications, a Los Angeles nonprofit research and exhibition center for public space, encountered fair weather in the cloudlike apparition called Squid Capsule. Created by L.A. design firm Layer, the Squid Capsule consisted of 40 transparent vinyl membranes hanging like tentacles. A cloud of fog covered the installation, […]
The yellow (red and orange) shades of Texas
January 1st, 2011
Colorful fabric shade structures designed by Rios Clementi Hale architects invite passers-by to enjoy San Antonio’s Main Plaza in the heart of town. The structures recently won an IAA 2010 Award of Excellence for exterior shade from the Industrial Fabrics Association International annual awards program, and are a vital piece of ongoing redevelopment of downtown […]
Designer pavilion: slippery when wet
January 1st, 2011
The hottest design during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics was Speedo’s LZR Racer swimming suit, which helped American Michael Phelps and a host of other world-class swimmers break more than 90 world records with its aerodynamic fit and fabric. Its advantages led to the suit being banned by the Fédération Internationale de Natation. The obsolete […]
More fabric in Shanghai
January 1st, 2011
As testament to the popularity of fabric for temporary world fair pavilions, Norway’s presence at the Shanghai Expo 2010 was found in a wood and tensile canopy structure designed by Norwegian architects Helen and Hard AS. Although Expo 2010 has ended, the design is part of a new exhibition at the Scandinavia House, New York […]