Multimaterial Knit Skins: A Design-to-Fabrication Workflow for Mass Customized Freeform Membrane Panels

Abstract

This paper presents a design-to-fabrication workflow to customize multimaterial CNC knitted textiles to form nonstandardized and nondeveloped curved surfaces for façade cladding skins. These are bespoke membrane panels knitted with heterogenous elasticity and shaped out-of-plane by bendable rods to form pre-tensioned 3D freeform surfaces without needing conventional cut-and-join processes. This research culminates in the Knit Patterned Flow pavilion. The workflow is implemented across 35 uniquely shaped scalloped panels assembled as a modular paneling system to create a visually continuous spatial envelope.

Keywords:

• Functionally Graded Materials
• Textile Membranes
• Mass Customization
• CNC Knitting

Acknowledgements

The research featured in this paper was supported and partially funded by several grants from the Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD) in SUTD (RGDM1610204, SGPHCRS1905) and a ZJU-SUTD IDEA grant (SUTD-ZJU (SD) 201904). The authors would like to thank the following individuals for helping to install the pavilion: Kwan Wai Hin, Sruti Niranjan, Tim Yap Ming En, Chiu Po Heng, Wee Yu Hui, and Ho Jin Teck Daryl. We also wish to credit Lee Tat Lin for photographing our pavilion.

Data Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Y. Y. Tan, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ying Yi Tan

Ying Yi Tan is a Post-Doctorate Research Fellow at SUTD. His research explores the design, analysis, and fabrication of CNC knitted functionally graded textiles for applications of various scales in architecture and healthcare. His Ph.D. investigated how knitted membranes can be customized for building scale components.

Pei Zhi Chia

Pei Zhi Chia is a Research Assistant at SUTD who specializes in soft goods fabrication using CNC knitting and cut-and-sew techniques. Her research spans architecture, healthcare wearables, and geographic information systems.

Yu Han Quek

Yu Han Quek is a Research Assistant at SUTD who specializes in the design and development of computational tools and interfaces. His research resulted in a novel software pipeline for generating CNC knitting instructions from high-level design specifications.

Kenneth Joseph Tracy

Kenneth Joseph Tracy is an Assistant Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design at SUTD. He is the Director of Dynamic Assemblies Lab and Co-Founder of Yogiaman Tracy Design. Tracy specializes in integrative design and advanced manufacturing, focusing on tensile assemblies. Recently, this research has garnered a patent for tensegrity design methods.

Christine Yogiaman

Christine Yogiaman is an Assistant Professor in Architecture and Sustainable Design at SUTD. She codirects Dynamic Assemblies Lab, where her work explores design applications such as biomaterial fabrication, computational fluid dynamic simulation, and interactive architectural surfaces.