Assignment 5

Assignment 5

Textiles have been around since the late Stone Age and it has used in a functional way ever since such as clothing to wear and weather protection. Functional textiles are normal textiles with added functions such as temperature and humidity control depending on the location. In this essay, I will discuss a textile within a public/commercial area that is being used in a functional way. I will comment on its practical use and presence within that area and critically examine its formation, placement, use and other properties. The object I have chosen to look at is an exterior canopy type textile.

Outside the El Limonero restaurant in Orgiva, Spain is a permanent exterior Pergola. It consists of 8 masonry columns holding up a steel frame. Attached to the steel frame is a roofing grid of beams with a waterproof textile acting as shelter from all weather types. On the sides between each column are sheets of clear plastic that are available to roll down if it is raining to stop customers getting wet or when it is sunny they can be opened to allow a breeze through. Also, attached to the pillars are lanterns so you can see when it gets dark. The actual textile itself is made of solution-dyed acrylic yarn woven together to create this large textile. It is a vellum style pergola meaning it can be retractable when it’s needed. It is useful as it can protect customers against all weather types such as wind, rain and sun. It is free standing with an extra sheet attached to the building covering the walkway. Below the pergola is a nice seating area consisting of 6 tables with 6 chairs around each table. Around the seating area is a balcony type railing separating the tables from the road. The floor is made out of artificial grass. Personally, this textile is being used perfectly the way it should do, it is functional.

These textiles have been created specifically for this context; to protect customers from different weather types. It looks like it has been commercially made; if it had been handmade it would be appreciated more by the customers when eating because of the craftsmanship and effort gone into creating it. The scale is important for this to be useful as it connotes an umbrella so the bigger it is the more customers they can have in all weather conditions. To view this fully, you need to stand further away as it looks better as a whole. Although it is not made to be attractive, you can appreciate it more when underneath it and being protected. This textile transforms the space it is in because it changes a normal decking to a well protected seating area. There is repeated folds in the fabric for when it retracts, it will all fold together nicely instead of creasing.

Pergolas are a very useful thing to have whether it is in your garden at home or at your local restaurant. It is classed as an outdoor room that provides light and airy space. They are freestanding and much larger than an ordinary arbor or canopy. They don’t require you to try and add it to the building/house. If you like flowers, you can add trellises or lattice to allow the plants to grow up the side or hang up flower baskets from the roof beams. Pergolas are easy to DIY if you prefer to do it yourself but you have to remember to put it in the right position if you are using it for shade. However, pergolas can also require some maintenance such as treating the wood. If you have flowers or vines, you need to trim them regularly so the pergola isn’t weighed down. It may look different over time where the sun has bleached the colours of the fabric or wood. These things should be brought into consideration when looking into buying one.

Going back to the flooring of El Limonero, it is Astroturf which is technically a textile. At first, this seems unusual to have as a floor in a restaurant but when you think about it, it’s actually rather smart because it is low maintenance and still looks good. It is made out of multiple layers such as pile fibres, backing cloth, shock absorbing layer and a supporting base. The pile fibres are grass-like and soft to feel. The backing fabric is what the fibres attach to and it allows water to permit through easily. The purpose of the foam is to absorb impact and cushion the feel when walking over it. The supporting base is the concrete beneath it to hold everything together. All these layers not only allow comfort when walking over it, but it also doesn’t require any maintenance and should last for many years. Overall, this is another functional textile being used in a useful way.

Functional textiles are used all around the world in many different houses, shops and other commercial areas every day. They include breathable, hot and cold resistant, waterproof and fire retardant fabrics. This specific restaurant has 2 forms of textiles being used functionally, the pergola and the artificial grass. Both of these textiles are different when in comparison with each other, however, they have one thing in common and that is the functional use. The pergola is used in all weather types and it can be used by anyone anywhere. Overall, this pergola at El Limonero is being used in a functional manner to protect customers; its permanent fixture will bring people in anytime of the year.

WORDS: 933

Bibliography

Pergola – El Limonero, Orgiva, Spain.

Beauliec, D. (2019) What is a Pergola? The Spruce. [online] At: www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-pergola-2131097

Artificial Turf. Technical Textile. [online] At: www.technicaltextile.net/articles/artifical-turf-the-new-face-of-sports-textiles-5463