Fabric to Form: How Can the Gap Between Textile Artistry and Architectural Innovation be Bridged Through the Integration of Honeycomb Smocking and the Diagrid Structure?

Abstract

Throughout history, textiles have played a pivotal role in human culture, from the delicate tapestries of ancient civilisations to the high-performance fabrics of today. Similarly, architectural advancements have continuously pushed the boundaries of design and engineering. This research investigates the issue of textile and architectural integration, focusing on the nuanced relationship between the traditional art of honeycomb smocking and the innovative architectural diagrid structure. This exploration aimed to bridge the seemingly disparate domains of textile artistry and architectural innovation, shedding light on how these fields can coexist and enrich one another. With its rich history and decorative appeal, honeycomb smocking offers a unique perspective on flexibility and aesthetics in textile design. Conversely, the diagrid structure, a hallmark of modern architectural efficiency and aesthetics, presents a geometric rigour and structural integrity that challenges traditional building frameworks.

The project has taken a practice-based research approach through a disorderly iterative process of experimenting, synthesising, analysing, examining and evaluating these techniques. Challenging the notion of a rigid design process, both theoretical and practical approaches have been used to answer the questions. This approach sought to uncover the potential of a symbiotic relationship that leveraged the strengths of each discipline, ultimately aiming to inspire a novel approach to design that harmonised the tactile intimacy of textiles with the scale of architectural constructs.