Fabrick: Textile as a flexible climatization tool

The human body's ultimate goal, physiologically speaking, is to keep its temperature within a tight range around 37°C. In comparison to the vast range in outdoor thermal conditions that can go as low as -20°C and recently as high as 45°C, even in mainland Europe. The built environment is of course among the greatest tools to fend off against climate, whether on urban or building scale. We shape our cities, urban outdoors, structures and finally interiors to mitigate the extremes of the climate.

But, how about the scales in between? How about the flexibility throughout time? Do we need the same amount of protection, at all times? Obviously not - but should we design for the worst case scenario? Does that mean we go overboard with our built environment? 

This semester focuses on these intermediary climate responsive design solutions, using textile as a medium. The expected design outcomes can range from outdoor applications to building envelope ideas, to interior scale proposals, to some form of clothing - or simply anything in-between. 

We will be working together with  Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin's Textile and Surface Design program  in parallel. Each group will have access to their tandem group's research and expertise, while acting as architectural consultant to the other group. There will be an excursion to Berlin to get acquainted with textile design processes.

As a principle, we aim to place evidence-based design at the center of our studio approach. This mean, throughout the semester we will ask the students to come up with concept/s, develop and test them, and based on the testing, re-think the initial design. This semester we expect mock-ups of varying scales to be built. For testing purposes the students will have access to the chair's climate chamber  SenseLab  under supervision.