Project Description

The Surface Affects project investigates how material systems, fabrication techniques, and cultural practices shape the expressive and performative qualities of architectural surfaces. This phase of the research focuses on weaving as a situated and collaborative form of making, adapted for architectural application. Grounded in low-carbon construction and material experimentation, the project advances creative methodologies for the built environment through iterative, hands-on inquiry.

Conducted over eight years in East Africa, the research engages communities historically marginalized within the building industry to identify vernacular weaving practices and regional materials with architectural potential. The project unfolds in two phases: Evaluation and Making. The first involves workshops and collective research to examine traditional knowledge, test material limits, and inform computational models. The second phase translates these findings into full-scale prototypes, offering a creative and inclusive approach to sustainable architectural practice.