Multimaterial Knit Skins: A Design-to-Fabrication Workflow for Mass Customized Freeform Membrane Panels

Abstract

This paper presents a design-to-fabrication workflow to customize multimaterial CNC knitted textiles to form nonstandardized and nondeveloped curved surfaces for façade cladding skins. These are bespoke membrane panels knitted with heterogenous elasticity and shaped out-of-plane by bendable rods to form pre-tensioned 3D freeform surfaces without needing conventional cut-and-join processes. This research culminates in the Knit Patterned Flow pavilion. The workflow is implemented across 35 uniquely shaped scalloped panels assembled as a modular paneling system to create a visually continuous spatial envelope.