Fabricating architecture
Thrilling events and good public relations are no longer enough to guarantee an experience that everyone will remember. The appeal of a location and the quality of the experience are also important factors in the contest for the highest attendance figures. Even the architecture of the installation must stand out against the structures of the competition, providing a special attraction to visitors and exhibitors alike. Temporary structures should both underline and define the image of a company. Integration into the overall marketing concept, for example, with a design in the company colours or by applying logos in distinctive positions, is essential. Textile structures might well provide the answer. Unusual architecture and attractive design provide a suitable setting for all manner of events - concerts, tradeshows, corporate or sporting events. They fulfil both very practical needs such as protection from the elements and meet the client's expectations of practicality, efficiency and image. Short planning and erection times and virtually no maintenance costs make textile structures a realistic alternative to conventional constructions, particularly in experience architecture.
The flexibility of technical textiles permits countless unorthodox and unexpected shapes. Varied colours and printing on membranes offer additional interesting design choices.
Textile buildings are usually tensioned structures with lightweight steel supports and cables or cable nets, resulting in light and spacious rooms. Extendible textile roofs offer additional attractive and functional architectural options. For example, open-air stages can be covered in a matter of minutes at the press of a button. The highly translucent material creates a pleasant atmosphere.
Indoors, on the other hand, technical textiles are primarily used as design elements or as partitions. The sky's the limit when it comes to creative use of shape, colour and light, so it comes as no surprise that technical textiles are increasingly being used as defining design elements.
m+a report Nr.1 / 2006 vom 13.02.2006
m+a report vom 13. Februar 2006