Advanced 3D Textile Applications for the Building Envelope

Abstract Within the field of textile construction, textiles are traditionally used either as decorative elements in interior design or flat tensile-stressed lightweight constructions (roofs, temporary buildings, etc.). Technical made glass carbon fibers now also steel substitutes concrete construction. There, lost formwork shaping semi-finished products. Applications for 3D and particular spacer have so far only been investigated part multilayer combination with other elements. Otherwise, there no studies their application potential roof wall areas buildings a starting structure opaque translucent components. The two research projects presented here, "ReFaTex" (adjustable fabrics solar shading devices) "ge3TEX" (warp-knitted, woven foamed fabrics) illustrate one thing possibilities using construction movable translucently variable protection building envelope. Otherwise they show how materials can be transformed into opaque, lightweight, self-supporting insulated ceiling components Both designed experimentally iteratively. results compared qualifying manner, aim being not to quantify individual measured variables but explore development sustainable future realize first demonstrators. In ReFaTex project, 1:1 demonstrators different movement mechanisms controlling incidence light were realized. ge3TEX three foam added form new single-origin composite great industry.