Modular Knitted Architecture: Column

The transition to net zero energy use in the building sector requires a fundamental rethink of material strategies. Utilising the zero-waste construction capability of knit, this project used craft practice and computational modelling to produce knitted branching structures that demonstrated structural integrity through their complex geometry at an architectural scale. This offers a potentially transformative approach for construction in two ways, firstly by reducing conventional material requirements and secondly by enabling the transition to low-impact biomaterial alternatives.

One challenge of working with knit at an architectural scale is the dimensional limitations of fabrics manufactured using industrial machines with a needle bed width of 1.85m. Large-scale work can be assembled from multiple pieces, however reconfiguring knitted fabric by joining fabric panels compromises the performance of the material, limiting multidirectional extensibility and the inherent strength the material. Significantly, the challenge of computational modelling of knitted fabric is exacerbated when fabric characteristics are transformed at the joins.

This project found solutions using traditional grafted knit seams that retain the structural performance of the knitted fabric and enable more accurate computational models. This was tested at three scales using hand and digital processes leading to further development with three-dimensional CNC production.