Innovative Interior Textiles: Vol. 6, Issue 10 - InformeDesign

Implications
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Other new innovations involve nanotechnologies (i.e.,
manipulating material properties at the molecular
level to produce enhanced performance qualities)
that have created new products such as textiles
that detect chemicals and gases, generate mobile
power, and incorporate flexible sensing systems.
Moreover, research is ongoing to develop fabrics
that can reliably carry data and power, which could
open a whole new area of product applications in the
building and interiors markets. The global market for
nanomaterials is expected to reach $4.2 billion by
2011.
Fig. 2: National Aquatic Center, Australia, clad in a bubble wrap made
of ethylene tetra flouro ethylene (ETFE) foil pillows.
Unique Interiors Applications
There are five areas where specialty fabrics contribute
to innovations in interiors. New ideas and innovations
are now seen in textile walls, fabric ceilings with
unique properties, integrated fabric lighting, and
unique furniture designs. Equally important, is the
trend of applying outdoor fabrics, such as awning
fabrics or marine cover and seating fabrics indoors.
These high durability fabrics (also called performance
fabrics) are woven like indoor fabrics, with finishing
techniques that create softness for easy draping,
in contrast to the stiff, canvas-like qualities of
traditional outdoor fabrics. Performance fabrics are
selected when requirements call for fade, moisture,
and stain resistance, as well as ease of cleaning.
High-end furniture makers and upholsterers are
requesting performance fabrics more often.
Driving the demand for performance fabrics is the
residential design trend focusing on outdoor living
spaces. Furniture is frequently moved in and out,
and the distinction between spaces is blurred. Fade
resistance is a major selling point of performance
fabrics in states like California and Florida. Ultraviolet
(UV) rays pass through transparent walls (i.e., glass
windows) and open floor plans bring in large amounts
of daylight. Concurrent with the push to outdoor
living is the demand for more textured fabrics for
use on exterior-bound furniture, such as jacquards,
medallion weaves, and dobby textures. Fabrics of
these types cost between $100 to $200 a yard, and
are very durable. “Texture is very big right now,
whether created by weaving techniques or through
use of novelty yarns” (Kleinschmidt, 2008).
Textile Walls
Developments in the application of specialty fabrics
include the application of textiles as interior walls.
Unlike standard wall coverings found in typical office
developments, these textiles have structural qualities.
Tensile fabric structures used for interior walls are
constructed for long-term use. These fabric walls need
to be torqued (like the twist of a propeller blade) to
introduce stiffness to the warp and weft of the fabric
weave. Torqued fabrics minimize flutter and prevent
loose sheets of fabric that could lead to ripped fabric
if left unattended. The construction of these textile
walls is accomplished by the introduction of double
curvature or the “anticlastic” (i.e., surfaces have
double curvature in diametrically opposite directions,
like a saddle.), curving of fabric in two directions at
every point on the surface of the fabric.
Think of a saddle shape: in one direction (x axis)
the form curves upward or outward, in the opposite
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