Inner Glow: Textile and Architecture-Fibre Space Collaboration using New Glow Materials

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: This textual work is an exposition of Leanne Zilka and Jenny Underwood's ongoing research in creating fabric capable of lighting space. Fabric fibres were embedded with glow-in-the-dark-properties (known as long life afterglow phosphorescence), which were then knitted into fabric tubes using industrial knitting machines, being installed as an immersive environment. The result was 140 sleeves acting as columns, swaying around the body. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: In this text, Zilka and Underwood discuss the centrality of the body in their 'Glow' project, which was shown as an immersive environment - a space that lay between architecture and garment. They discussed the concept of the 'wearing of space' and the 'push-pull relationship between the body and the fibres.' The application of garment-scale fibres to architectural space highlighted the connection between architecture and the human body, and how the body became the pivot point of all decisions, from sensory to fabrication, allowing for the realisation of a passive lighting alternative. The text positions their research within an emergent field of architectural research that explores fibre-based materials and textiles process to create lightweight malleable architectural structures. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The article was published in the Autumn 2015 issue of Architect Victoria: the official journal of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Victorian Chapter. It provides leading edge coverage of the issues influencing the Victorian architectural community. The journal is published quarterly, and is available in print and online.