At the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the installation Necto presents an exploration of architectural form and materiality using 3D knitted natural fibres. Designed by architecture studio SO–IL, structural engineer Dr. Mariana Popescu, and design research practice TheGreenEyl, the work is on display in Room 3 of the “Natural Intelligence” section at the Arsenale Corderie, from 10 May to 23 November.

Lightweight Textile Structure with Reusable Design
The structure is composed of knitted strips made from natural fibres, assembled into a web-like surface using computational design and form-finding processes. The resulting geometry relies on tension to achieve structural stability. The installation is suspended between ceiling trusses and anchored to the ground via the Arsenale’s existing columns, forming three spatial elements: a cone, a column-like form, and a suspended mass.

One of the primary aims of Necto is reusability. The installation was designed for disassembly, transport, and reassembly without heavy equipment. It was shipped to the site in compact containers and constructed using lightweight methods. After the exhibition, the structure will be dismantled and prepared for future reuse, with no residual impact on the location.

Material Treatment and Coating Technologies
The fibres used in the installation are selectively coated with a translucent, biobased stiffening agent. This treatment allows specific zones of the textile to become rigid, while others remain flexible. This variation in material stiffness creates transitions between tensile, fluid, and solid states across the surface. The use of a bio-based coating aligns with principles of sustainability and minimised environmental footprint.

In addition, the textile incorporates luminous threads that respond to lighting conditions, introducing a dynamic visual element. A DNA-based data encoding system has also been applied to the coating. This experimental technology enables embedding of material and structural data directly into the fibres, allowing for traceability and potential future analysis.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Research
The installation is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration involving architecture, structural design, computational modelling, and material science. Contributors include teams from TU Delft, ETH Zurich, the Technical University of Munich, and various fabrication and research partners. The project functions as a research case study in temporary, adaptive textile architecture using biobased and traceable materials.

Applications and Relevance
Necto offers insights into potential applications of knitted natural fibre structures in temporary architecture, spatial installations, and other lightweight design contexts. Its design strategies—emphasising portability, reusability, and smart material integration—are relevant to disciplines including architecture, interior design, product design, and textile-based spatial design.

Source: Designboom
Photography: Iwan Baan