“Gisela Baurmann dreams of ocean habitats crocheted out of kelp and avalanche barriers crocheted out of steel. Baurmann is an architect and a crocheter, and if her research is successful, she might just meld the two into a new architectural field: crochet-based construction.” states Lydia Felty in the article “Stitch by Stitch” published in Arcade Magazine, Issue 42.1 Materiality, Summer 2025.
School of Architecture faculty Gisela Baurmann’s Hyperstitch employs crochet as a method of design to develop resilient architecture and engineering constructs. Crochet models of hyperbolic geometry point to strategies for generating 3 dimensional formations, which respond to local rules of stitch increase and decrease. Engaging with a robotic arm as collaborator allows to scale the construction up and employ industrial grade materials.
By examining the potential of ‘weak’ structures to flex and perform plastically in volatile environments, the project challenges conventional notions of strength and stability. The resultant form-active structures harness the innate energies of the materials they are fabricated with and make them resilient. They present a novel approach for protecting human and other living habitats from volatile weather occurrences and other impacts caused by climate change.
Special thanks to the PiFab and Greg Sheward.
