ARCHITECTURE OF TEXTILES: DESIGN THINKING FOR LOCAL CONTEXTS Honors Senior Research Project Chelsea Brown, BS in Arch, 2013 Peter Wiederspahn, Faculty Advisor ASBTRACT 3 The study of traditional cultural mate- ing first what it means to be local, then 1. Appadurai, Arjun, “Illusion of rials provides insight for the design of creating a spatial idea of what that Permanance,” in Perspecta, no. 34 contemporary architecture in cities of local is, allowing one to “get a deeper (June 2003): 44-55. the developing world. Precedent exists sense of what it means to produce, Art & Architecture Complete, EBSCOhost 1 within the images, materials, and cli- inhabit, and sustain spatial relations.” (accessed July 27, 2012), p. 44. mactic responses of cultural artifacts, Similarly, Mehrotra suggests identi- however the methods of adaptation fying lessons from globalization for 2. Mehrotra, Rahul, “Between Equity And for architectural design are yet to be application in local contexts in order Impatient Capital: Making Indian Cities,” defined. to create distinct identities for each in Journal Of Inter- of India’s cities, thus creating unique national Affairs 65, As seen in many developing countries, no. 2 (Summer2012 the rapid modernization of urban architectural responses that are “very 2012): 133-137. Aca- much of that place.”2 Combining the demic Search Premier, centers, such as Mumbai, has sup- EBSCOhost (accessed July 26, 2012), p.137. ported the construction of countless process of these two experts, that of generic buildings that fail to relate to understanding both locality and the their locality and fall short of design benefits of global methods, suggests a innovation. Many researchers have method for creating new contextually critiqued the urban environments and relevant architecture. architecture of many of India’s major cities, including Mumbai; however few have proposed real methods of creat- ing better spatial conditions. Published interviews with both Rahul Mehrotra, a Boston-Mumbai based architect and professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and anthropolo- gist Arjun Appadurai, provide insight into the theoretical approaches to the design of new urban environments, of which local identity is a major con- cern. Appadurai suggests understand- METHODOLOGY 4 3. Frampton, Ken- In line with Kenneth Frampton’s tural material—textiles—explores the neth, “Prospects for a Critical Regionalism,” “Prospects for a Critical Regionalism,” visual, material, and spatial manifes- in Perspecta, vol. 20 (1983): 147-162. my research similarly deconstructs tations of Mumbai’s culture for the JSTOR (accessed Sept. local traditions and foreign influences, development of a broad-based design 9, 2012). then analytically proposes methods of thinking that incorporates tradition design thinking for the reconstruction with contemporary culture. 3 of a modern context. Understanding At the outset I defined the terms of the use of textiles in Mumbai as both my architectural thought as identity, a temporary construction material grounding, and boundary. These three and cultural expression, my research terms served to delineate the vari- makes in initial conceptual leap—con- ous aspects of architecture’s aesthetic, necting textiles with architecture. This cultural, and spatial qualities into connection allows both textiles and more broad based terms that move architecture to be understood outside beyond specific architectural moves their typical definitions, and aids in into the realm of architecture’s social my research of local traditions in applications. Similarly, I defined the Mumbai. terms of my investigation of textiles Methodologically, my research has as aesthetic, means, and environment. followed a loosely linear sequence of After elaborating upon the defini- (1) defining the terms related to both tion of each term, I plotted them in a the topics of textiles and architecture; matrix, from which I began to draw (2) making conceptual connections conceptual connections, pages 6-7. between the two sets of terms, with Within each cell I listed initial ideas textiles in Mumbai as a test-bed for relating to the intersection of two these connections; (3) compiling a given terms—for example the crossing matrix diagram of the conceptual of textile means and architectural connections between architectural and grounding—as well as questions for textiles terms; (4) travel to Mumbai to further research and a brief list of rel- document and critique the conceptual evant articles that I anticipated would connections thus developed; and (5) aid in my later expansion of the cell’s reformation of concepts and revision conceptual contents. of matrix into specific-generic design The matrix then became a conceptual thinking paradigms. The final result map that lead my in-field research of this process of research, analysis, in Mumbai. Over a two-week period and reordering of an existing cul- 5 I visited a number of open public spaces, parks, and markets, document- ing instances of temporary construc- tion, textile structures, and screening elements. Information gathered while in Mumbai has thus influenced the content of the matrix and its applica- tion. Moving away from a process- based conceptual research framework, the matrix is now a solutions-based framework, illustrating potential methods of design-thinking. MATRIX 6 ExploresTEXTILES the themes relating to use of textiles. AESTHETICS: MEANS: ENVIRONMENT: IMAGE/PATTERN TOOLS/TECHNIQUES CLIMATE/EXPERIENCE Rapoport, Amos. “Attributes of BIBLIOGRAPHY Visual associations between textiles Repetition of pattern, fabric, color, Regionalism Tradition.” In Dwellings, Settle- ments, and Traditions. Edited by and architectures, referencing each application aid in forming a Alsayyad, Nezar, “From Vernacu- Use of screens, layers of larism to Globalism: the Temporal Jean-Paul Bourdier and Nezar other— seen in patterns, screens, cultural/traditional identity Reality of Traditional Settle- Alsayyad. Lanham: University thresholds, and deep shadows Press of America, 1989. 77-105. and layers of thresholds ments.” In TDSR vol. VII no. 1 (1995): 13-24. Academic Search Economic class division through Semper, Gottfried. “Style in the Tradition in symbology Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed Technical and Tectonic Arts or application of A/C October 14, 2012) Practical Aesthetics.” In The Four Elements of Architecture and TRADITION Temporary architecture of street Appadurai, Arjun. "Illusion of : / markets, slum residences, and Permanance." Perspecta, no. 34 Other Writings. Translated by (June 2003): 44-55. Art & Archi- Harry Francis Mallgrave and special events tecture Complete, EBSCOhost Wolfgang Herrmann. (accessed July 27, 2012). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, 181-264. Burns, Carol J. “High Performance IDENTITY CULTURE Sites.” In Site Matters. Edited by Vellinga, Marcel. “Anthropology Carol J. Burns and Andrea Kahn. and the Materiality of Architec- New York and London: Routledge, ture.” In American Ethnologist, vol. Urban “fabric” and continuity of Materiality as it relates to culture Temporary responses to weather 293-310 34, no. 4 (2007): 756-766. image Tools to create repetition, Typological adaptability to climate: Cerasi, Maurice. “Type, Urban Wang, Wilfried. “Sustainability as a Cultural Problem.” In Harvard Temporary structures have typologies open markets, screens, deep Context and Language in Con�lict.” In Typological Process and Design Design Magazine, no. 18 permanent presecnel iterations of overhangs (spring/summer 2003): 1-3. Temporary market structures near Theory. Edited by Attilio Petruc- structures vary; frequency cioli. Cambridge: Aga Khan train stations Program for Islamic Architecture. : throughout city creates urban fabric 179-188. Frampton, Kenneth. “Frank Lloyd REPETITION / Wright and the Text-Tile Tectonic.” In Studies in Tectonic Culture. Edited by John Cava. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001, 93-120. SITING GROUNDING Frampton, Kenneth. “Prospects for a Critical Regionalism.” In Visual/perceptual edges Systems of enclosure Spatial qualities of boundaries Perspecta, vol. 20 (1983): 147-162. JSTOR (accessed Sept. 9, Physical boundaries are layered, Textiles used as physical boundaries Expansion of space through 2012). gradual progression from exterior overhangs and shade Frampton, Kenneth. “Introduction: Temporary construction implies to interior Re�lections on the Scope of the socioeconomic permanent Blurring of boundaries through Tectonic.” In Studies in Tectonic Culture. Edited by John Cava. boundaries spatial depth Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001, 1-27. : Mehrotra, Rahul. "Between Equity And Impatient Capital: Making WALLS Indian Cities." Journal Of Interna- / tional Affairs 65, no. 2 (Summer2012 2012): 133-137. Academic Search Premier, EBSCO- LINES BOUNDARY host (accessed July 26, 2012). ARCHITECTURE of textiles. use relating to themes Explores the MATRIX 7 ExploresTEXTILES the themes relating to use of textiles. AESTHETICS: MEANS: ENVIRONMENT: IMAGE/PATTERN TOOLS/TECHNIQUES CLIMATE/EXPERIENCE Rapoport, Amos. “Attributes of BIBLIOGRAPHY Visual associations between textiles Repetition of pattern, fabric, color, Regionalism Tradition.” In Dwellings, Settle- ments, and Traditions. Edited by and architectures, referencing each application aid in forming a Alsayyad, Nezar, “From Vernacu- Use of screens, layers of larism to Globalism: the Temporal Jean-Paul Bourdier and Nezar other— seen in patterns, screens, cultural/traditional identity Reality of Traditional Settle- Alsayyad. Lanham: University thresholds,