FORM MANIPULATION AND ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION OF SPACER FABRIC

Abstract

Spacer fabrics are 3D warp-knitted fabrics, which have a volumetric structure. Together with the capacity to differentially stretch and contract, these materials allow three dimensional deformation which is specific to spacer fabrics. This research presents a computational design methodology which enables the generation of form based on these material characteristics and manipulations. Such a process can not only generate functional surface articulations, but also control the forming of spatial textile geometries. As a resin infused composite structure the spacer fabric can serve as architectural construction and building envelope.