Commercial Architecture October 2017 - 49

OF SHADE

FA B R I C
COMPONENTS
I N S U S TA I N A B L E
ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN

Increasingly, shade structures begin the design conversation especially for
commercial buildings, structures in sunny climates, those which will inhabit
a warming planet (this one) and architects looking for new ways to create
built environments in harmony with nature's forces. The future includes a
conscious intention toward shade structures.
T H E E VO L U T I O N O F S H A D I N G FA B R I C S
In order to appreciate the future of shade and position oneself on the
leading edge of this movement, it helps to review the past, the long history
of using fabrics as architectural add-ons and how the practice has evolved.
Prior to the 1960s, most awnings and shading fabrics were made of cotton
canvas, which the sun broke down quickly. In 1961, the owners of one of the
oldest, most respected fabric brands decided to change the nature of shading
materials the company had been making since the 1880s. They replaced
cotton with acrylic fibers and pre-extrusion pigments and offered an unheardof warranty of five years. They were dubbed "performance fabrics."
In the 1970s, performance fabrics got the attention of boaters, and the
outdoor furnishings industry exploded with these new, long-lasting yet
pliable fabrics. In 1988, BMW became the first car brand to adopt this
company's fabrics for its convertible models.

Frames to Shams-Ol-Emareh by Nastaran Torabi and Zahra Noori Jamshidi is a series of orange-fabric-covered frames
suspended in the forecourt of the historic Shams-ol-Emareh mansion in Tehran. The frames provide shade and seating, while
also offering visitors a new framed perspective on the mansion.

By the early 2000s, as the green building movement gained momentum
with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating program, more
attention was paid to the sustainable nature of performance fabrics. As
high-performing shade fabrics last longer, people use less fabric and
thus generate less waste as compared to other fabrics that might fade,
lose strength or give in to mildew and atmospheric chemicals. In fact,
some fabrics can be recycled through manufacturer recycling programs,
reducing impact on landfills.
S I G N AG E A N D B R A N D I N G W I T H FA B R I C S
As the use of shading fabric continues its trajectory in modern
architecture, its use as a business branding strategy spans the decades.
Historically, a print canvas canopy over a cigar shop or beauty parlor
signaled the establishment's presence to passersby. While that design
practice continues today, modern corporate branding with fabric is often
spectacular, with enormous printed banners moving in the breeze. They
are a signal to passersby and even passing aircraft that business or cultural
events are happening there. The colors of the shading fabric convey their
own branding message, tying into the corporate, company, educational or
nonprofit organization's identity.
E X PA N D I N G S PAC E
Shading strategies in corporate, cultural and residential settings create
copious amounts of added space for meetings, gatherings, meals and
leisure. While the cost of walls and a roof could be prohibitive, and most
likely exceeding a particular lot's allowable square footage of structure,
the addition of shaded "rooms" becomes a possible way to expand the
amount of usable space. Fabric enclosures in commercial spaces such as
restaurants can help boost profits by increasing the amount of outdoor
seating available year-round.

Cotton Hill by Sergii Borodenko and Aljona Kolesznikova uses Sunbrella fabric to create a modular shading system that
doubles as a no-soil planting system for urban areas that lack space for landscaping.

S H A D E S T R U C T U R E S F O R H E A LT H A N D U V P R OT EC T I O N
Protection from the sun has always been important to humanity, but
never so much as it is in modern times, with holes in the ozone layer
and the unprecedented speed at which our planet is warming. Whereas
natural climate change occurs gradually, giving organisms the opportunity
to evolve their own protections, the speed of this man-induced climate
change requires man-made protections. Ideally, we don't want sunlight to
be totally "on" or "off," and that is where UV-resistant shading fabric (as
well as shade itself) comes into play.

CO N T I N U E T H I S CEU CO U R S E
AT SU N B R E L L A .CO M / FOSC EU.

CIRCLE 216

http://www.SUNBRELLA.COM/FOSCEU https://www.cdsreportnow.com/bgs/search?CBP0216201710

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture October 2017