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New material research on kenaf fiber fabric
November 1st, 2012
Taiyo Kogyo Corp., through its Technical Research Center, has released a study of a novel recyclable coated architectural fabric made with kenaf fibers. Taiyo Kogyo has developed Kenafine™ a green fabric for architectural membrane structures made by weaving kenaf bast fiber with polyester fiber as a base fabric. In addition, the use of TiO2 photocatalyst […]
Structure combines the merits of both fabric and metal
November 1st, 2012
Legacy Building System, from Legacy Building Solutions, is a frame-supported fabric structure that combines the merits of both fabric and metal modular building systems. Legacy uses metal building trusses and cladding in combination with a fabric roof system producing a very open conventional metal building that benefits from the fabric qualities, such as high natural […]
Eco-friendly screens
November 1st, 2012
NatureNetting™ is a compostable plant-based natural netting with high tensile strength and excellent covering characteristics. The netting can be used for mesh cover or barrier fencing. NatureNetting™ was developed in response to client demands for an environmentally friendly material that provides a robust screen yet still allows visibility for security purposes. The product uses high […]
School’s roof lets in natural light
November 1st, 2012
Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA), a new secondary school, is part of the UK government’s initiative to roll out academies across the country. Designed by Atkins Global architects, the design features a cable-supported, single skin ETFE roof over an unheated internal street with classrooms facing the street. The roof, fabricated by Base Structures Ltd., besides […]
London 2012 Olympic Stadium wrap
November 1st, 2012
As a major American corporate sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics, the Dow Chemical Co. was committed to the rigorous sustainability and environmental standards set by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Dow sponsored the wrap called for by the stadium architects, Populous. A collaboration between the Cooley Group and […]
Solar fabrics bring power to the people
November 1st, 2012
Commercial success for large-scale flexible solar fabrics may be just around the corner. By Michael Lotti Fabrics that capture energy are gaining traction in the consumer marketplace. Solar backpacks, solar umbrellas, solar purses and even solar clothing can be ordered with a few mouse clicks. But what about awnings, rooftops, boat covers and other large-scale […]
Driving the future of fabric structures
November 1st, 2012
Today’s advanced technologies will drive the future of fabric structures. By Blaine Brownell Fabric is one of the oldest materials humans have used for shelter; it remains an important material with diverse applications in design and construction today, and it will play an even more important role in the constructed environment in the future. Predictions […]
White paper: Fabric using kenaf fiber
November 1st, 2012
By H. Toyoda Abstract Both polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)-and polyvinyl chloride(PVC)-coated fabrics are employed today in different type of tents and architectural membrane structures all over the world. However, there is no easy and effective recycling method for these fabrics because of the difficulty of separation of the fibers from the coating resins. From the environmental viewpoint, Taiyo […]
Shade sail design capability added to Awning Composer by Tri Vantage®
October 24th, 2012
Tri Vantage®, in collaboration with Meliar Design, has added elements of MPanel Shade Designer software to Awning Composer, enabling users to create 3-D shade sail models for visualizing the effects of shade sails on outdoor spaces. “Connections between our two programs will allow users to easily create designs in MPanel Shade Designer and transfer them […]
Book review: Media-ICT
October 5th, 2012
Architects can be very reluctant to disclose details of their buildings, particularly where they have designed a structure that is groundbreaking. This makes the Media-ICT book a positive revelation as it discusses in great detail the award winning Media-TIC building with its smart ETFE façade. The building is designed by Enric Ruiz Geli/Cloud 9. The […]