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Textile-Inspired Facade Crafted from Lightweight Materials in a Tropical Education Hub

Authors:
Thomas Hopkins, Chris Falla
Textile-Inspired Facade Crafted from Lightweight Materials in a Tropical Education Hub
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A textile-inspired facade with an intricate exoskeleton of lightweight materials defines this School of Fashion, creating adaptable educational spaces that foster creativity and community.
5 key facts about this project
01
Textile-inspired exoskeleton enhances building aesthetics and performance.
02
Parametric design allows for a unique, responsive façade to climate.
03
Generously proportioned central atrium serves as a multifunctional community space.
04
Interior studios utilize modular layouts to foster collaboration and flexibility.
05
Shading devices integrated into the façade optimize natural light and reduce heat gain.

### Overview
The Fabric Tower is a School of Fashion located in Bangkok, Thailand, designed to explore the relationship between architectural innovation and the textile arts. The project reflects on the historical evolution of textiles and their influence on culture, merging form and function while addressing environmental considerations suitable for a tropical urban setting.

### Spatial Concept and Materiality
The design of the Fabric Tower incorporates dynamic surfaces that emulate the flow and drapery of fabric, culminating in an undulating silhouette and intricate façade. The building employs a diverse range of materials: extensive use of glass allows for natural light to permeate interior spaces, while steel provides structural integrity to support complex shapes. Concrete forms the foundational elements, ensuring stability. A unique textile-like exoskeleton serves as cladding, mimicking textile qualities to enhance thermal performance and flexibility in form.

### Environmental and User-Centric Features
The design prioritizes environmental efficiency through passive strategies, including adjustable louver systems that regulate sunlight and ventilation, directly addressing the challenges of Bangkok's heat and humidity. The interior layout accommodates classrooms, studios, and exhibition areas, promoting creativity and collaboration among students. The atrium functions as a central hub for events, linking the experience of fashion with the architectural environment, thereby creating an immersive educational experience. Detailed environmental analysis informed the building orientation and sun shading devices, optimizing energy efficiency while enhancing occupant comfort throughout the year.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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