Intersection of Understanding: The Digital, Tactile and Physical in Fabric Architecture

The use of tensile fabric in architecture results in structures that can be both ecologically sensitive and delight the eye — but how do we begin to understand this nontraditional method of defining form and shaping space?

This paper explores how the researchers utilized a full-scale fabric installation meant to educate the user about the possibilities of fabric in architecture through an interactive and tactile experience. This study documented the users’ initial knowledge and comfort level with fabric and its material properties in architectural applications and compared this to their understanding after interacting with the installation.

The results of this study show how the use of a hybrid methodology of exploring a new material can lead to an increased understanding of how to utilize fabric for architectural applications and form finding.

keywords: fabric architecture, form-finding, computational design, experiential learning