TEXTILES.ORG
New radiation-reducing material introduced
May 7th, 2013
Taiyo Kogyo Corp. and Hiraoka & Co. Ltd. recently announced the launch of a new radiation-reducing membrane material called “RaProTex™¹.” Expected applications include decontamination bags for soil and ash containing low-level radioactive substances, as tarps used to cover decontamination bags, tent structures for temporary storage of contaminated materials and as workplace dividers in areas with […]
A “bearable” high-efficiency building design
May 1st, 2013
Building energy research in Germany finds inspiration from polar bears. By Mark Zeh Fabric materials offer quite a few advantages in the construction of roofs, such as efficiency of material use, ease of transport and good light transmissivity, but a big disadvantage is their poor thermal insulation performance. Over the last several years, many advances […]
Fabric ceiling panels help create a classic retrofit
May 1st, 2013
A central London office building, revamped to turn a historic single-business office into several separate spaces, now sports a modern face-lift designed to appeal to prospective customers. Architects from Sturgis Associates LLP, London, England, installed private balconies on the 33 Kingsway building with backlit, color-changing fabric ceilings. The new look updates the exterior, draws attention […]
Fabric ceiling transforms a school gym
May 1st, 2013
Arcus Temporum XI, a three-day spiritual exercise August, 2012, blended music, theater and art, focusing on the theme “a search for place.” The festival site, the Arch Abbey of Pannonhalma, Hungary, is a historic monument with a breathtaking view of Lake Balaton—and a boarding school gym that served as a concert hall for guest composers. […]
Latin American symposium on tensile structures
May 1st, 2013
Now a biannual event, the Latin American Symposium of Tensile Structures has much to share. By Josep I. de Llorens The Fifth Latin American Symposium of Tensile Structures (Tens-Scl 2012), was held in September 2012 in Santiago, Chile. Organized by the School of Architecture, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and chaired by architect Juan I. […]
Going global with digital fabrication
May 1st, 2013
Advanced technology opens door to new design possibilities. By Frank Edgerton Martin With digital fabrication, the fabric industry has a powerful tool to combine international expertise with on-the-ground knowledge of local building conditions and client needs. Thanks to computer-aided design software and the Internet, clients, designers, fabricators and manufacturers can work together across time zones […]
Spinning the web of a structure
May 1st, 2013
New digitally-driven technology explores what it means to build buildings. By Marc Swackhamer In November 2012 the Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart, led by Professors Achim Menges and Jan Knippers, completed the fabrication and installation of a unique fiber-woven pavilion. […]
Interior textiles: Part 2
May 1st, 2013
Detailing the development of an industry. By Nicholas Goldsmith Besides the developments described in Part 1, another critical path in the development of tensile fabric interiors also started during the 1980s. Bill Moss, well known since the 50s for his design of lightweight camping tents, introduced a stretch fabric display for trade shows and events. […]
Structure shades a transit station
May 1st, 2013
A Knoxville, Tenn., transit complex creates a focused center—complete with shade. The John J. Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center, located in downtown Knoxville, Tenn., serves as the city’s major transportation hub to more than 3.5 million passengers a year. Built over James White Parkway on an overpass, the Station serves as a link between […]
A chic shading system
May 1st, 2013
A high-end mall fights off the sun with fabric. The Mall at Chestnut Hill, located in the Chestnut Hill section of Newton, Mass., caters to affluent Bostonians living in the suburbs. The high-end, two-story enclosed mall is small by most retail mall standards but attracts shoppers with tony boutique retailers such as Kate Spade, Cole […]