This new interview provides an excellent introduction to the disruptive the field of Textile Architecture, which is in increasingly high demand.
The world of architecture is undergoing an exciting revolution, and textile architecture is at the heart of this transformation.
Architects and engineers have become increasingly versatile in recent years. In fact, the unstoppable advance of new technologies and the digital age is opening up new niches for them to specialize in and receive training.
What's more, there is no doubt that the importance of the sustainability in engineering and architecture, innovation, or new work procedures and methodologies are gaining ground in this field. Therefore, these professionals must keep their knowledge up to date in areas such as Textile Architecture, if they want to establish themselves in the job market as 4.0 professionals.
Increasingly, the development of large structuresThey require professionals with expertise in textile architecture because of its ease of transport and assembly, as well as its sustainability. That is why we have put together this interesting Interview with Javier Tejera, an architect and specialist in textile architecture. He also teaches an advanced course on textile architecture at Structuralia. Don't miss a thing!
Based on your experience… Could you briefly tell us about your professional background and what your current job entails?
«I am an architect by training, and when I was a student at the Madrid School of Architecture, there was a course on textile architecture. I took it in 1997 because, throughout my entire degree program, my student projects always turned out organic and with undulating forms, but I didn’t know how to bring them to life. In that course, I submitted my final project to the “Techtextil” contest and won first prize. It was the first time a Spanish student had won, and it caused quite a stir.
This encouraged me, from then on, to start working in the field of textile architecture Since 1999, the year I graduated with a degree in architecture, I have been running the company BAT SPAIN where we not only work on projects but also manufacture and construct textile roofs and facades. In 2017, I was hired as a professor at the university, and I continue to teach the textile architecture course while also serving as a construction advisor for senior thesis projects and teaching the Construction course for fourth-year students.
Professionally, IHis first major project was Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport (2004), and I have participated in many other projects involving cultural centers, shopping centers, stadiums, office buildings, etc.»
As an introduction to this area… What is textile architecture, and why is it important in the field of construction?
«Textile architecture basically consists of Building with membranes and sheets. This is achieved by making the most of the fundamental characteristic of structures with structural elements that function as a membrane: they perform better the greater their curvature, while always maintaining bidirectional tension across the entire surface.
This helps stabilize the membrane against external forces such as snow, wind, etc.
As an expert in textile architecture… Could you give some notable examples of iconic textile structures around the world?
«The most iconic textile structures are often those that, because of their size, design, or the activities they host, have a greater global impact. In this regard, we could highlight the O2 in London (Millennium Dome) Because of their enormous size, the roofs of stadiums such as the Frei Ott Olympic Stadiumor and the Allianz Arena in Munich, the Madrid Metro, the New Maracanã or the Alllegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, », in which textiles have become almost indispensable because of their lightness, light transmission, etc."
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using textiles in construction compared to traditional materials, such as concrete or steel?
«In my opinion, the key advantage is that textile architecture is thethe most efficient construction method in terms of structural lightness. It is important to note that the weight of the fabric is negligible (around 1 kg/m²) compared to that of any other building material, such as concrete and steel. Furthermore, when working with tensioned textiles, the required structural framework is drastically reduced, as it is needed only along the perimeter to span large openings—the membrane itself functions as another structural element.
As disadvantage, I believe that the lack of knowledge of this discipline, »This makes the engineers who develop projects somewhat hesitant to incorporate textile architecture into their designs, because they don't know how to design it, calculate it, or predict how it will behave over time; as a result, textile architecture is no longer being incorporated into projects for these reasons."
What are the main challenges faced by textile professionals and architects in terms of the design and construction of structures?
«Above all, the difficulty finding appropriate training in order to design these types of solutions, since There are few places in the world where this specialty in textile architecture is taught. And it's a field that architecture and engineering schools don't prepare you for.
On the other hand, a large The challenge is to overcome the common belief among potential customers “that they are structures with a short lifespan, ephemeral, or difficult to maintain. There are already materials with a lifespan similar to that of ”traditional» building materials, and with added benefits such as resistance to dirt and abrasion, recyclability, etc."
Could you tell us about the latest trends and technological advances in textile architecture?
«The most recent trends and developments are primarily related to the Development of new materials and their applications. In this regard, we could mention membranes with fluorinated coatings or Teflon coatings, which greatly improve their performance, as well as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) films, which provide almost complete transparency.»
Can you tell us about a recent project you've worked on?
«We at BATSPAIN have recently completed the installation of a large textile facade for the CC Epizen in Andorra and another at the Faro Cultural Center in Estepona, both featuring highly complex parametric geometry. As for textile roofs, the most significant one is the cover of the Atlético's new Metropolitano Stadium from Madrid, a Teflon coating shaped like ridges and valleys, with a structure that conceptually functions like a “bicycle wheel.”.
Why is it important to pursue a master's degree in textile architecture for those who wish to specialize in this field? What benefits can it offer?
«Learning, finding a job, standing out, starting a business, or breaking into new markets. As I mentioned earlier, There is virtually no training in textile architecture anywhere in the world, and even less so in Spanish. A technician who wants to specialize in this field can not only pursue personal training but also find career opportunities at specialized companies in the sector, which are constantly looking for professionals with some knowledge in this area, since there are none.
Based on your experience… Why would you recommend the Textile Architecture Expert Program currently offered by Structuralia?
«The expert program is an introduction to textile architecture, but at an advanced level. In this regard, it lays the groundwork for concepts, design, calculation criteria, materials, and construction so that students who wish to do so can later complete their studies with the master’s program offered by Structuralia and acquire the full capabilities to design, calculate, and construct textile architecture solutions, enabling them to advance their careers in this field and break into the market in their country by setting themselves apart from the competition, »etc."
In closing… What do you think are the challenges facing the industry that we should keep in mind in the coming years, and what advice would you give to future professionals?
«Given the growing environmental awareness in the construction industry, the challenges involve using fewer and fewer resources (and in this regard, as I mentioned earlier, textile architecture is a good option because of its lightness). Building with lightweight materials means building in a more environmentally friendly way. Likewise, increasingly incorporate the concepts of the the recyclability of materials, their life cycle, the use of biomaterials, and the integration of solar energy generation into textile architecture, are other challenges that are beginning to give rise to new fields of research and opportunities for the professionals of the future, whom I encourage to specialize in the field they are passionate about.»
Do you want to dive in, learn, and get answers to your questions about this disruptive field? On August 23, at 5:00 p.m., Javier Tejera will give a Masterclass on Textile Architecture and How to Build with Membranes: Textile Roofs and Facades. You can also get answers to any questions you may have about the new call for applications for the Advanced Course in Textile Architecture. Sign up here.
From Structuralia, we would like to thank Javier Tejera Parra for his great dedication and contribution to this interview, which provides us with an in-depth and expert perspective on the incredible field of Textile Architecture. We encourage you to comment on this interview!
