Innovative Use of Knitted Textiles in Construction

Here’s how to put the ‘fabric’ into fabricate, as ETH Zurich alumna and TU Delft Assistant Professor of Digital Fabrication Mariana Popescu explains.

Could a knitting machine revolutionise construction? 

For her PhD, ETH Zurich alumna Mariana Popescu worked with the Block Research Group to show that it’s possible to use lightweight knitted textiles as a mold for concrete. Mariana discusses knitting machines, complex geometry, and why her PhD project needed two suitcases to get to Mexico.

This is her story.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to the Knit Candela project

(01:18) Using fabric formwork for casting concrete

(04:08) Construction of the Knit Candela structure

(04:32) Computation and modeling in the project

(05:26) The Swiss influence on the project

(06:21) Applicability of the project beyond Switzerland

(07:21) Scaling up the project and future developments

(08:18) Improving the design for reusability and waste reduction

(08:48) The multidisciplinary skills required for the project

(09:12) Choosing ETH Zurich for further studies

(10:40) The process of selecting the thesis topic

(11:39) The role of collaboration and openness in the project

(12:33) Mariana's knitting and programming skills

(13:01) Understanding parametric design and computational design

(14:24) Setting up a group focused on fabrication

(15:20) The potential impact of the projects on architecture and construction

(16:18) Mariana's curiosity in fabrication and materials

(18:08) Closing remarks and podcast outro