'texoversum' center for textile research to be cloaked in fiber facade

ICD / ITKE at the university of stuttgart applies its research to architectural practices with the design of the fiber-composite facade at texoversum. while the research team is known widely for its pavilions generated through a replication of biological processes, this new undertaking follows the success in a design competition for the new education and innovation center texoversum in the german city of reutlingen. the architectural concept is based on a multifaceted examination of the topic of textiles. the design theme is reflected both structurally in the internal interweaving of functions and in the building envelope that creates its own identity. the unique façade made of carbon and glass fibers, the first of its kind to be implemented in this way, represents the innovative power and future viability of fiber-based materials and textile techniques.

images © allmann sattler wappner architekten, menges scheffler architekten, jan knippers ingenieure

with a facade designed by ICD / ITKE at the university of stuttgart, ‘texoversum,’ will stand as an education, research and innovation center for the cross-cutting technology of textiles. the center will be realized on the campus of reutlingen university of applied sciences, with an overall design by a team comprising allmann sattler wappner architekten, menges scheffler architekten, and jan knippers ingenieure. the team was awarded first prize in the related design competition and subsequently commissioned with the realization of the building comprising almost 3,000 square meter of space for different user groups.

in a robotic winding process developed by ICD / ITKE at the university of stuttgart, each individual facade element can be individually tuned to its functional requirements. starting from three basic modules, the elements transform themselves according to their orientation toward the sun and form a unique, multi-layered appearance. the elements are completely self-supporting and do not require a supporting structure. their staggered arrangement allows free views. in addition to the functional requirements as external shading devices and guard railing, the façade meets aesthetic and representative demands and creates a distinctive building that expresses textiles as a driving force for technology. the façade elements will be manufactured by the company FibR GmbH, a spin-off from the university of stuttgart.

project info:

project description: fiber-composite facade at texoversum

facade design team: institute for computational design and construction (ICD — achim menges), institute of building structures and structural design (ITKE — jan knippers)

facade elements fabrication: FibR GmbH

building design team: allmann sattler wappner architekten, menges scheffler architekten, jan knippers ingenieure