Sustainable textile architecture: history and prospects

Abstract

Textiles are now used in various applications in different fields, including the building industry. “Textile Architecture” and “Fabric Structures” are gaining new prominence in the construction world because of their multiple unique characteristics, such as being lightweight, low cost, and durable, as well as offering low energy consumption, flexibility, and resilience. In particular, they are respected for their capability of enclosing large spans with minimal material use and construction time. These characteristics appear to offer the potential to develop a unique textile architecture that can also guarantee environmental sustainability.Fabric structures have been used throughout history, beginning with the early tents built by humans to provide shelters against harsh weather conditions, where no natural shelters were available, and stretching to the the present time, with structures that have been elaborated to meet the needs of more complex applications in different forms, shapes and sizes.The further development of high-quality materials has triggered a renaissance in textile architecture, yet the current lack of knowledge and limited research on the development of textile architecture and the potentials of such unique structures and techniques in terms of developing sustainable urban contexts, is an ongoing issue. Accordingly, the present paper aims to explore the historical development of textile architecture, and to shed light on the vast range of contemporary modern uses, and architectural applications, as well as discussing the future prospects of this unique sustainable architecture, which may influence the development of new ideas to create aesthetic and cultural contexts within the urban environment. The paper utilises a descriptive research methodology, by tracing the development of such structures to to clarify the recent worldwide progress in the field of architecture in terms of producing outstanding sustainable designs and technical solutions utilising textiles.