Textile School,
design: allmannwappner,
Menges Scheffler Architekten, Jan Knippers Ingenieure
Texoversum - Reutlingen University's School of Textiles is a state-of-the-art science and research center designed to foster education, research and innovation in the textile industry. The new building, created as part of the campus expansion, is distinguished by its groundbreaking woven facade. The project was carried out in collaboration with Munich-based allmannwappner, Frankfurt-based Menges Scheffler Architekten and Stuttgart-based engineers from Jan Knippers Ingenieure. Texoversum is the world's first building whose facades consist of woven carbon and glass fiber tiles, symbolizing the possibilities of modern materials and innovative textile techniques in architecture.
woven structure created robotically
The central motif of the project is the woven structure, visible in both the building's facade and interior layout. The façade tiles were made using an innovative process of robotically winding fibers to create openwork elements. Each tile was designed according to five unique patterns, and their placement responds to the natural movement of the sun, providing a multi-layered visual effect and access to daylight.
Texoversum's Center for Modern Textile Technology in Reutlingen - a woven structure for the building's facade
© Brigida González
production of
carbon and glass fiber facades
Professor Achim Menges, director of Menges Scheffler Architekten and founder of the Institute for Computer-Aided Design and Construction at the University of Stuttgart, describes the process of producing these façade tiles. Robotic Coreless Filament Winding (RCFW, robotic coreless filament winding) technology allows a robot to place the filaments between two rotating templates, allowing the parts to be freely shaped without generating unnecessary waste.
Texoversum's Center for Modern Textile Technology in Reutlingen - fibers
© allmannwappner
innovative facade:
lightweight construction and sun protection
The architects used an interdisciplinary approach, combining architecture with structural engineering and material science. The Texoversum façade serves both an aesthetic and technical function, providing, among other things, sun protection as required by German building codes. Once cured, the fibers form openwork structural elements that attach to the building's concrete slabs. The low weight of each element (less than 30 kg) allows for simple installation using standard tools, while precisely designed openings in the façade panels provide views of the surroundings and access to natural light.
Texoversum's Center for Modern Textile Technology in Reutlingen - the facade panels were made using an innovative robotic fiber winding process
© Brigida González
The openings are aligned with the line of sight of both sitting and standing people, and the density and distribution of the fibers provide additional shading in the areas most exposed to the sun
- explains Menges.
Texoversum interior
The theme of interpenetration of spaces continues in the 4112 sq. ft. interior. The space is organized in an open layout, with mezzanines that visually intermingle to create a spacious atrium that is the focal point of the building.
Texoversum Center for Modern Textile Technology in Reutlingen - interior view
© Brigida González
The interior is characterized by an austere aesthetic: concrete finishes and visible technical installations emphasize its functional, industrial character, while the color gradient refers to historical tapestries.
Texoversum Center for Modern Textile Technology in Reutlingen - the center's interior with a raw, brutalist aesthetic
© Brigida González
The realization of the Texoversum required translating the results of scientific research into practical solutions that comply with the strict requirements of German construction law. Accordingly, numerous tests of durability, weather resistance and fire resistance were conducted. The building was financed by the Südwesttextil organization, which supports the development of the textile industry and employment in southwest Germany, and donated to the University of Reutlingen.
elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of allmannwappner studio.
