Textiles and Architecture | Woven into Dimensions of Temporality, Craft, Drapery, and Technology

Abstract

Textiles play an important, but often unacknowledged role in architecture. They have been closely associated with flexibility, texture, weaving, impermanence, moldability, mobility, lightness, and wrapping. However, textiles are merely perceived as finishing materials or applied ornamentation in buildings. Their narrative though has been prominently shifting from a temporary dialogue to a cardinal story; penned to be read with multiple versions. This thesis investigates a more comprehensive integration of textiles in architectural design, primarily through case studies that demonstrate important dimensions of fabrics—Temporality, Craft, Drapery, and Technology—to state their advancing relevance in contemporary architecture. Leveraging the methodology of qualitative and quantitative study, this thesis evaluates the integral role of textiles in design, contributing towards tapping their full potential in architecture thereby providing a concrete narrative and strengthened understanding for future exploration.