CONCRETE TAPESTRY subverts the perceptual and literal heaviness of concrete construction through a series of delicate linear networks fabricated by experimental methods. The project investigates the potential of textile craft to generate new configurations of reinforced concrete, translating an existing small-scale technique into larger-scale fabrication strategy. Each “tapestry” is reinforced with a hand-braided carbon fiber armature that leverages techniques from traditional lace-making — those that usually produce pictoral motifs — into purposeful forms that adopt a material and structural function. The project builds on previous research employing a hybridized computational and analogue workflow for the design and fabrication of each underlying armature.

Lavender Tessmer, Nathaniel Elberfeld, Alexandra Waller with Sam Bell-Hart

Completed with support from the Regional Arts Commission of St.Louis.