Sunday, December 6, 2020

Knitting and Architecture

Surfaces with compound curves can create structures that are far lighter and stronger than rectangular forms.

In the 20th century the architect Felix Candela used thin shells of concrete to make undulating rooflines that used much less material to create a durable exterior, more akin to natural forms. 


Architect Mariana Popescu has taken this idea a step further. She recently gave a Ted talk showing how she and her team used knitting machines to efficiently create curved space architecture.
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8 comments:

Jim Douglas said...

Candela's architecture always makes me hungry for Pringles. The elegant saddle shape of the Pringles chip is mathematically known as a hyperbolic paraboloid. The strength of the shape keeps the chips from breaking in the packaging process. Engineering never tasted so good.

Roberto Quintana said...

WoW! Buckminster Fuller would be very impressed. -RQ

João Sampaio said...


His work reminds me of Oscar Niemeyer. A notorious Brazilian architect.

João Sampaio said...


His work reminds me of Oscar Niemeyer. A notorious Brazilian architect.

João Sampaio said...


His work reminds me of Oscar Niemeyer. A notorious Brazilian architect.

Charlene said...

As a Knitter and Weaver I found this fascinating and not all that surprising at what the fabric can do.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

Susan Krzywicki said...

Mariana Popescu's structure is amazing and she has a gift for radiant thinking!

RafaelS said...

Also Engineer Eladio Dieste from Uruguay worked the natural forms with great success:

https://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/880593/18-proyectos-imprescindibles-de-eladio-dieste-
en-uruguay