Biography

Biography: Saigeethalakshmi

Abstract

When we think of factories or any industrial buildings, beauty’s usually not the first thing to come to mind, but apparently think of dirt, mud, toxic waste, impurity contamination, dim and dull box like warehouse structures with no sunlight entry inside. But this is not the truth. Factory buildings repeatedly offer a chance for architects to experiment with form, materiality, and structural techniques. Beauty in industrial architecture conveys various factors including exterior design, interior functionality, environmental efficiency and landscape layout. All of them have to narrate their story.

The product named “Crushed wall” is the latest architectural installation designed by British artist Walter Jack (Pic: 1 & 2) which tells how the texture and the form of textiles can be used to create architecture. This material is designed at the entrance of the heartlands project in Cornwall, UK, the expansive 40-metre long, 3-metre high wall utilizes concrete in such a way that it appears as soft and malleable, partially wrapping around the perimeter of a building.

The product being concrete has tried to reflect the fluidity of textile. Material used is Bardon Cemflow A, a free flowing, self-compacting mix of concrete of an architectural grade, used for finishes, a sheet of rubber and plywood. Concrete isn’t known for its tactile qualities also not noted for its fluid softness. And yet it is a liquid. The challenge of this concrete material is to retain continuity of the fluid form of concrete and mirror it with the textile texture accuracy to ensure continuity of form. Benefits of the material: Reduced labour requirements and lower site noise levels, flexible placing options and reductions of placing and finishing time and improved output in precast environments.

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