Architectural Fabric Membranes in the Built Environment

Architectural fabric membranes are flexible materials that have been tensioned using support systems to form a more permanent structure. This way of tensioning allows for unique shapes and designs to be created.

The Evolution of Fabric Membranes

In their most basic form, architectural fabric membranes have been around for millennia. Archaeological evidence dates tipis to a period lasting from 2,500 years ago to 500 years ago, eventually being used by virtually every tribe in the Great Plains from Texas to southern Canada (1). Tipis were built using a framework of trimmed and peeled branches which were tied together to form a cone shape. Animal hides or lengths of canvas were then draped over the structure, similar to modern day architectural fabric membranes. Fabrics were also used in the building of the Roman Colosseum to provide shade large-scale (2).

Jumping forwards, the Industrial Revolution gave way to a range of new technologies that helped to advance architecture as a whole. By the late 19th century, a Russian engineer by the name of Vladmir Shukhov was performing important calculations regarding beams, shells, and membranes, which made him the leading specialist in different types of metallic structures, including those involving tensioned fabrics.

In the 1950s, German architect Frei Otto made major advances in the field of fabric membranes. He founded the Center for the Development of Light Construction and the Institute of Light Structures at the University of Stuttgart, and wrote the first comprehensive book on tensile structures. In 1972, he collaborated with Behnisch and Partners to create a canopy for the Munich Olympic Stadium, which still stands today (3).

It is important to note that the evolution of fabric structures is not a straight line; the use of fabrics in architecture spans across numerous cultures and varies greatly. For centuries, semi-nomadic people across the Middle East and North Africa have constructed traditional Sahara Nomad Tents with the use of tightly woven camel or goat hair. The fabric, which is either woven by hand or on a loom, allows these tents to regulate heat and keep out water (4).

While primitive tents were used as makeshift shelters, they have evolved with people. The Bedouin, an Arab semi-nomadic group in North Africa and the Middle East descended from nomads who historically inhabited the Syrian and Arabian deserts (5), have evolved their tents from a simple shelter to a well-known sign of hospitality and oasis. Today, Bedouin tents have been modernized to better suit today’s needs while still reflecting the Bedouin belief that every traveler should be given shelter and protection from the relentless elements for at least three days (6). They are beautifully crafted and an important piece of cultural heritage.

The Benefits of Fabric Membranes

As a whole, there are a number of advantages to using architectural fabric membranes in upcoming projects. The benefits of these membranes vary from material to material used, as each material has differing properties. Tridome Structures works specifically with PVC and ETFE. These materials have benefits that range from aesthetic, to environmental, to cost.

Aesthetic

Aesthetically, architectural fabric membranes allow for a range of designs due to their flexible and lightweight properties while still remaining durable. Fabric membranes can be translucent or opaque, and can take on varying shapes, sizes, and levels of flexibility to fit an array of needs for any individual. ETCE specifically is available in almost every color, and can transmit more than 90% of light. Creating aesthetically pleasing spaces can then make a more welcoming environment that both contributes to the wellbeing of those interacting with it and has the ability to increase the value of the property.

The power of aesthetics to promote wellbeing is well researched, and above all it has been found that aesthetics most promote wellbeing when they feature art and natural themes (7). The power of nature to promote wellbeing aligns with the concept of biophilia. Biophilic design incorporates green space into architecture, which benefits human health and happiness because it appeals to the biological drive that helped humans evolve and thrive to associate with nature. The ability to use architectural fabric membranes with such versatility means biophilic designs can be easily incorporated. Fabric membranes can be made to mimic treetop canopies, or allow in some natural sunlight while still protecting from the elements.

Environmental

Architectural fabric membranes can provide environmental benefits depending on materials used. Looking at PVC and ETFE, the fabric membrane materials used by Tridome Structures, there are a number of positives installing a fabric structure can provide compared to other building materials.

The first factor is weight. Because they are extremely lightweight, the use of fabric membranes for covering an area utilizes considerably less mass than other materials over the same area. Because less mass is being used, less mass needs to be produced; this requires less raw materials and less energy consumption for both production and transportation than other building alternatives (8). Also, these membranes are very durable, so less mass does not translate to having to replace them often; typically, PVC membranes last at least 20 years, while ETFE membranes last at least 30 years (11).

Left: PVC membrane structure Right: ETFE membrane structure

Another factor in the environmental advantages of architectural fabric membranes is the fact that they are fully recyclable, easily repurposable, and allow existing buildings to be adapted. Both PVC and ETFE are able to be fully recycled or repurposed at the end of life, which makes them more sustainable than most other building materials. Fabric membranes also allow for the adaptation of existing buildings. Because roughly 40% of global resources go to the built environment and it would take 100 years to rebuild every existing building to be sustainable, it would be better for the environment to find new uses for old buildings instead of extracting the materials it would take to build entirely new buildings. These old buildings can be adapted using architectural fabrics and foils to improve both their appearance and thermal capabilities (9).

Cost

There are a number of reasons that architectural fabric membranes are typically more cost-effective than other building materials. The first is the cost of materials in a given space.

Fabric membranes have both a low weight and low raw material cost in production. Having a low weight while covering a large area means less need for both the covering material and the materials needed to support the structure.

References:

1:http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.arc.048#:~:text=Tipis%20have%20probably%20been%20used,use%20of%20the%20open%20Plains.

2:https://www.tensionstructures.com/architectural-innovation-the-history-of-tensile-structures/

3:https://www.tensileshadesupplier.com/en/news/Blog/tensile-architecture-innovation-the-history-of-tensile-fabric-structures-35.html

4:https://moroccanberbercarpets.com/traditional-camel-hair-tents

5.a:https://spatialexperiments.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/bedouin-tents-black-wool-and-a-cactus/#:~:text=The%20Bedouin%20are%20an%20Arab,of%20the%20traditional%20Bedouin%20culture.

5.b:https://www.tentickle-stretchtents.com/bedouin-tent-history/#:~:text=The%20Bedouin%20tent%20is%20still,for%20any%20event%20or%20function.)

6:https://schupepe.co.nz/the-history-of-the-bedouin-tent-and-why-our-tents-reflect-their-design/#:~:text=Bedouin%20tents%2C%20black%20tents%2C%20or,for%20at%20least%20three%20days.

7:https://www.momentumbuilds.com/4-benefits-of-an-aesthetically-pleasing-branch-or-workplace/#:~:text=Aesthetically%20pleasing%20spaces%2C%20especially%20those,linking%20our%20surroundings%20to%20wellbeing.

8:https://gbdmagazine.com/fabric-structures/

9:https://fabricarchitecturemag.com/2022/05/01/fabric-structures-reduce-environmental-impact/

10:https://www.williamsroofingil.com/5-key-benefits-of-pvc-roofing-membrane/