Archi-Textile Shelter Workshop

Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture
Philip de Langes Allé / 1435 Copenhagen K / Denmark

January 6th - 13th 2008

An archi-textile workshop with Rachel Wingfield and Mathias Gmachl together with Mette Ramsgard Thomsen, Head of CITA / Centre for Information Technology and Architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.

Workshop Context

Digital technologies are allowing a rediscovery of the traditional crafts. As new technologies for description (computer aided drafting and modelling) are becoming more open to high levels of complexity, and as technologies for tooling (computer aided manufacture) enable non standard production we are increasingly able to develop bespoke and highly crafted surfaces.

SHELTER explores the traditions of basket weaving, lacing, knotting and crocheting for architectural structures. Learning from traditional textiles techniques we will investigate how the architectural thinking structures as armature and skin can be collapsed and expanded. Using fibre glass rod we will develop complex structure allowing for flexible structures at scale 1:1.

Students were asked to consider the concept of a transitional SHELTER. How can a SHELTER be conceived as something permanent or temporary, material or immaterial? How can its structures combine and collapse ideas of flexibility and rigidity? How does the body belong and how does it pertain to its (multiple) sites?

During the workshop we created large scale 3-D lace using composite fibres - these towers were fabricated by small groups in matter of a few hours.

We also explored creating textile architecture using circles of composite fibre interlinked and woven together.

More information and video footage coming shortly!
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