Remembering Frei Otto

April 1, 2015  |  Features

A giant of the tensile structure industry and influential master architect leaves a legacy. By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Upon learning that he had been awarded the Pritzker Prize, Frei Otto recently said: “I am now so happy to receive this Pritzker Prize and I thank the jury and the Pritzker family ver…
Powerful fabric

April 1, 2015  |  Exteriors, Features

Tensile structure featuring photovoltaics creates positive energy for carpark. The Solar Cloth Company, based in Cambridge, UK, has developed a unique architectural solution for tensile structures that combines visually striking design with high-yield Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). These …
Building with textiles

April 1, 2015  |  Features

A report from the TextielMuseum exhibition: the current and future potential of textiles in architecture. By Marie O’Mahony The use of textiles in buildings is by no means new, with early examples of dwellings made using branches and animal furs that can be dated back more than 35,000 years. The T…
Fabric protection for new cars

April 1, 2015  |  Features, News

An auto dealer shade saddle shades cars and people, and offers a sustainable extra. By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Wolfsburg, Germany, located about 65 km east of Hannover, could be considered the Disneyworld of the automobile industry. The VW Autostadt is designed like a theme park with eight “pavilions…
Architecture Billings Index improves in February

April 1, 2015  |  News

After its first negative score in 10 months, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) showed a nominal increase in design activity in February, and has been positive 10 out of the past 12 months. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-mont…
Legacy Building Solutions opens new headquarters

April 1, 2015  |  News

Legacy Building Solutions, a designer, manufacturer and installer of tension fabric buildings, has constructed and opened a new corporate office at its headquarters in South Haven, Minn. The new building was necessitated by Legacy’s rapid growth in the fabric structure market, propelled by the com…
SANITIZED UV-resistant mildew protection

April 1, 2015  |  News

A new development from Swiss SANITIZED AG, specialist in antimicrobial hygiene function and material protection, prevents loss of performance in textile treatments under aggressive insolation. Sanitized® TH 12-13, which can be used on textiles and for polymer coatings, offers long-lasting UV-resist…
Provides acoustical benefits

April 1, 2015  |  News

Phifer Inc.’s SheerWeave Style 4901, a two-sided twill weave fabric, is part of the company’s range of interior sun control fabrics that address acoustical needs within the commercial and office environment. Style 4901 joins SheerWeave Basic 3%, Style 2500 and Performance+ Style 2500. Phifer’s…
Forsthoff compact automatic overlap welding Machine

April 1, 2015  |  News

The Forsthoff P2 Auto Welder, from Abbeon Cal Inc., is a 120V-2200W automatic overlap welder that uses convenient 20-amp “household” power or a 3000W generator. A 230V-4000W version of the machine welds plastic materials up to 60 ml at higher speeds. The P2 is a low-maintenance, durable yet econ…
Fisher GF 5351 fabric

April 1, 2015  |  News

Fisher Textiles, a supplier of fabrics for digital printing, added its GF 5351 Waterfall fabric to the Enviro-Tex fabric line. GF 5351, also known as ET 5351 Waterfall, now contains 60% REPREVE polyester and 40% polyester. No change has been made to the fabric’s physical properties or price. All E…