Creative uses of Fabric

Burj Al Arab - World's Only 7 Star Hotel

The current generation of fabrics has a huge range of useful uses and properties, with the focus now on more than mere issues of aesthetics or touch.

Functionality is the current king: water repellant, anti-bacterial properties; fabrics that enhance the quality of the air; there are all properties that are of tangible value to the retailer and the consumer alike.

Take the Burj Al Arab that creatively used fabric in exterior material for an entire facade of the building.

Here is an article from Wikipedia:
“The space between the wings is enclosed by a Teflon-coated fibreglass sail, curving across the front of the building and creating an atrium inside. The sail is made of a material called Dyneon, spanning over 161,000 square feet (15,000 m²), consists of two layers, and is divided into twelve panels and installed vertically. The fabric is coated with DuPont Teflon to protect it from harsh desert heat, wind, and dirt; as a result, “the fabricators estimate that it will hold up for up to 50 years. The whole design in itself was originally put forward to the design committee by Edah Yllib, a Scandinavian designer. It took great mathematical thinking by this designer, but in the end proved very successful.”

“During the day, the white fabric allows a soft, milky light inside the hotel, whereas a clear glass front would produce blinding amounts of glare and a constantly increasing temperature. At night, both inside and outside, the fabric is lit by color-changing lights.

How about you, have you used fabric in a creative way in your office or interior projects?