Cloaked in a facade meticulously crafted by robotic weaving, Texoversum unveils its presence in Germany.

In the university town of Reutlingen in Germany, the Texoversum building has recently reached completion, marking a revolutionary achievement in collaborative architecture by Allmannwappner and Menges Scheffler Architekten. This innovative education and innovation center proudly showcases a groundbreaking facade, a masterpiece crafted by the ICD / ITKE research teams at the University of Stuttgart. The distinctive feature of this facade lies in its intricate composition of carbon and glass fibers, symbolizing a leap forward in architectural innovation and heralding the future potential of fiber-based materials and robotic techniques.

Texoversum, a vital component of Germany’s Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences campus expansion, serves as a focal point for teaching, research, and innovation in cross-cutting textile technologies. The architectural design, a collaboration between Allmannwappner and Menges Scheffler Architekten, intricately mirrors the theme of textiles both in its functionality and form. Internally, the building seamlessly integrates various disciplines and activities, resulting in a complex and multifaceted space. Externally, the facade emerges as a pioneering amalgamation of woven carbon and glass fiber tiles, establishing the building as a symbol of innovation.

The facade of Texoversum, a product of the robotic winding process pioneered by ICD / ITKE, represents a remarkable achievement in German architecture. Tailor-made carbon and glass fiber tiles, designed based on five templates, dynamically follow the sun’s path, creating a visually captivating and multi-layered appearance. Noteworthy is the self-supporting nature of these tiles, eliminating the necessity for an additional load-bearing frame and allowing unobstructed views of the surrounding environment. Beyond its practical utility, the facade stands as a visually engaging testament to the innovative potential and future viability of fiber-based materials and textile techniques.

Project Information:

• Project Title: Texoversum
• Architecture: Allmannwappner, Menges Scheffler Architekten
• Location: Reutlingen, Germany
• Facade Design Team: ICD / ITKE — Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD — Achim Menges), Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE — Jan Knippers)
• Facade Elements Fabrication: FibR GmbH
• Building Design Team: Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten, Menges Scheffler Architekten, Jan Knippers Ingenieure
• Photography: © Brigida González | @brigidagonzalezwork