Knitting the Gap: Textiles meets Architecture meets Textiles
ArcInTex Network

Hosted by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) on behalf of the ArcInTex Network, Knitting the Gap will focus on the connections between textile, architecture and interaction design.
Through a series of workshops and seminars spread across three days, we will explore newly-emerging ways of living in an age of technological innovations, through the design of adaptive and responsive environments in relation to the human body, buildings and their interiors.

- From: Wednesday 5 December 2018, 9.30 am
- To: Friday 7 December 2018, 5 pm
- Location: Rooms 008, 010,110, Arkwright building, Nottingham Trent University, Shakespeare Street, NG1 4BU
- Booking deadline: Tuesday 4 December 2018, 4.00 pm
- Download this event to your calendar
Event details
The ArcInTex Network aims to strengthen the foundations of design for more sustainable forms of living by connecting architecture, interaction design and textiles in a training network for early stage researchers.
Contributors
- Dr Paolo Beccarelli, Assistant Professor in Architectural Structures, University of Nottingham
- Tina Downes, Principal Lecturer in Textile Design, NTU
- Jan-Frederik Flor, Architect and Building Technology PhD student, University of Nottingham
- Dr Martha Glazzard, Textile Designer, Researcher and Lecturer, NTU
- Dr Dorothy Hardy, Advanced Textiles Research Fellow, NTU
- Dr Tom Hughes, UK Director of 2hD Architecture and Senior Lecturer in Designed Environment, NTU
- Theodore Hughes-Riley, Research Fellow, NTU
- Dr Frances Joseph, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology
- Dr Marisela Mendoza, Course Leader for MArch Architecture, NTU
- Keynote speaker: Mariana Popescu, Architect and PhD researcher at the Block Research Group, ETH, Zurich
- Dr Julian Robinson, Senior Technician, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, NTU
- Dr Lynn Tandler, Researcher and Tutor, Royal College of Art
- Kerry Truman, Senior Technician, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, NTU
- Rachael Wickenden, Textile Innovation Designer and PhD candidate at NTU
Reserve your place
To reserve your place at this event taking place from Wednesday 5 – Friday 7 December 2018, please visit the booking page on the ArcInTex website.
Programme: Day One, Wednesday 5 December 2018
9.30 am | Registration and refreshments | Arkwright 008 |
---|---|---|
10 am – 1 pm | Parallel workshops (break at 11.30 am) | Arkwright 010, 110 and 111 |
1 pm – 2 pm | Lunch | Arkwright 008 |
2 pm – 5 pm | Parallel workshops (break at 3.30 pm) | Arkwright 010, 110 and 111 |
Parallel workshops
Workshop one | S M L XL: Modular and Transformable | Marisela Mendoz | Arkwright 111 |
---|---|---|---|
Working with modular elements, this workshop explores the concept of scissor-like structures to create transformable spatial configurations at different scales. During the first day a series of small scale exercises will be developed to explore and enhance the understanding of scissor-like
structures’ kinetic properties. A jump in scale in during the second day will give the opportunity to work with larger modular elements to develop a 1:1 scale prototype. Resources provided: MDF bars; nuts, bolts, screws; paper, cutters and cutting boards; pliers Materials to bring: camera, laptop and cable to upload images. Other materials are optional. |
Workshop two | E-Textile Interiors: Fuzzy challenges | Rachael Wickenden and Kerry Truman | Arkwright 110 |
---|---|---|---|
The process will start at the ‘fuzzy front end’ (Sanders and Stappers, 2014) setting the challenge - designing E-textiles for public or transport interiors. Experimental making supported by the NTU Makers’ Club and Kitronik (electronic project specialists) will offer the opportunity to engage with physical
and digital materials. The workshop will conclude with group reflection on the artefacts developed including a discussion of sustainability based on NTU research. Resources provided: Conductive and traditional textile materials, electronics, physical and digital making tools Materials to bring: Laptop, textiles, sewing/ knitting kit. Other materials are optional. |
Workshop three | Quilting Space: Seams and tension | Martha Glazzard and Tina Downes | Arkwright 010 |
---|---|---|---|
This workshop looks beyond perpendicular architecture, using tension, gravity and textile properties to make conceptual spaces. Using knitted tubes as external membranes, we will experiment with ways of connecting or opening the structure. The workshop will culminate in larger scale tubular designs to be photographed as architectural forms or spaces. Resources provided: Knitted tubes of various scales and tensions; hard and soft structural elements; textile tools and support with textile methods. Materials to bring: Camera/camera phone; laptop and cable to upload images if desired. |
Programme: Day Two, Thursday 6 December 2018
10 am – 1 pm | Workshops continue ( break at 11.30 am) | Arkwright 010, 110 and 111 |
---|---|---|
1 pm – 2 pm | Lunch | Arkwright 008 |
2 pm – 5 pm | Setting up workshop expo (break at 3.30 pm) | Newton Forum Level 0 |
5 pm – 5.30 pm | Reception for evening public lecture | Newton Forum Level 0 |
5.30 pm – 6.30 pm | Public lecture: KnitCrete: Stay-in-place knitted formwork for complex concrete structures | Newton Lecture Theatre 5 |
Programme: Day Three, Friday 7 December 2018
9.30 am – 10 am | Registration and coffee |
The Atrium Bonington Building | |
---|---|---|---|
10 am – 11.30 am | S1 | The ‘Off the Cuff’ Pavilion Paolo Beccarelli | Bonington Lecture Theatre |
S2 | Kinetic Structures Marisela Mendoza | ||
S3 | Designing E-textiles for interior spaces Rachael Wickenden | ||
S4 | Textiles and Inflatables in Architecture Tom Hughes | ||
11.30 am – 12 pm | Break | ||
12 pm – 1 pm | S5 | Photovoltaics meet textiles: Bridging practical to aesthetic Dorothy Hardy | Bonington Lecture Theatre |
S6 | Extending Antipodean Textility Frances Joseph | ||
S7 | Developing Electronic Sensor Yarns Theodore Hughes-Riley | ||
1 pm – 2 pm | Lunch | ||
2 pm – 3 pm | S8 | Materials, Mechanisms and Membranes Jan-Frederick Flor | Bonington Lecture Theatre |
S9 | NTU Maker Club Kerry Truman and Julian Robinson | ||
S10 | Smart Textile Systems Lynn Tandler | ||
3 pm – 3.30 pm | Break | ||
3.30 pm – 4.30 pm | Symposium conclusion | Bonington Lecture Theatre |
Accommodation
Nottingham Trent University's city centre location means many of the UK’s biggest and most well-known hotel chains are within walking distance of the University, providing plenty of accommodation choices to suit all requirements and budgets.
Our partners at Nottingham Conference Centre offer guidance on a selection of hotels to choose from.
Mobility access
Please be aware that there are no access lifts at the entrance to the Arkwright building from Shakespeare Street. Delegates with mobility access requirements are advised to enter the venue from the Newton building on Goldsmith Street. Please see the attached map of the City Campus for reference.
Enquiries
For all enquiries please contact the event organisers Tina Downes, Principal Lecturer in Textile Design or Marisela Mendoza, Course Leader for MArch Architecture, Nottingham Trent University.
Image courtesy of Martha Glazzard
Location details
Room/Building:
Address:
NG1 4BU
Parking:
There is no parking available at the University itself, but there are many car parking facilities within a couple of minutes' walk. The nearest car park is Talbot Street Car Park. If using this car park, please exit onto Chaucer Street.
Travel Info:
To plan your journey to the NTU City Campus, please visit the Get Directions Page on the NTU website.
Past event