LOCATION
THE FRANKFURT EXHIBITION’S SLOGAN FOR TECHTEXTIL 2017 – “LIVING ON THE MOON” – MADE THE CHOICE OF AN ARCHITECTURAL PARTNER OBVIOUS: UNSTUDIO AND MDT DESIGNED THE “PROTOTYPE II”, A VISIONARY STRUCTURE BASED ON MULTI- LAMENT, PTFE, WEAVED IN-HOUSE AT MDT’S PLANTS.
DESIGN
The primary material component of the shelter is PTFE membrane. A textile of the highest performance, PTFE provides a durable, yet translucent and lightweight in ll. As a textile PTFE provides more uses and formal exibility than other architectural materials, such as composites or lightweight metals. However, like any other textile, PTFE can be custom woven—with open weaves and colour integration—to match the needs of any cladding or pavilion project.
When used in an architectural context, textiles must be combined with other materials to allow for a fixed shape and strong connections. As with its predecessor, Eye_Beacon, Prototype II uses an aluminum and steel frame in each panel to accomplish this.
The framed membrane strategy used in each of these prototypes will be further developed and optimised to serve as a façade, a second skin or a shelter structure.