A Place of Textile Dyeing

A Place of Textile Dyeing Aims to build a community for creative textile dyers where the local Australian textile dyeing could be developed and establish into a creative yet reputable craft. It is a space where textile dyers could research and communicate through the art of textile dyeing.

The project is designed for the clients to work and live while celebrating textile dyeing. It consists of workspace for the craft and a total of 3 residences, accommodating for both long and short term living. Communal living is encouraged to create engagement and interaction between the residents.

The form and spatial strategies are derived from the process of textile dyeing to celebrate the craft. The curve is taken from the shape of dyed fabric when it is drying; the grid structure of the drying rack; the level of transparency derived from the ambiguity of the colour of the textile during the whole process of dyeing.

This is a place to create, collaborate and celebrate.

Client Overview

Craft Process

Zoning diagrams

Site plan

Experiencing the process As we walked along Elgin Street, we noticed a series of colourful dyed fabric, hanged on the timber structure. It’s the textile dyeing place.

We approached the entrance and swung open the shoulder height wooden door. Welcomed by a variety of native flora, Butterfly bush, banksia, eucalyptus - the dye garden, where dye material is harvest from.

Behind the garden, it’s the wet area where plant dye extraction and textile dyeing process is held. Next to it is the drying area, where dyed fabric are left to dry. There is an outdoor and indoor workspace which accommodate different weather and situation.

Products of textile dyeing is then sold or exhibit at the retail store or exhibiton space next to the workspace, across the hallway.

Moving deeper into the building, guided by the slits of light through a transitional corridor, we moved from the workspace to the communal living area.

Arrival 3 entrances of the building, each serve a different purpose.

The entrances Elgin Street piqued the interest of the public on textile dyeing. An entrance each for the start and end of textile dyeing. Whereas, entrance from Pinkys Lane is more private and homely, welcoming the residents of the place.

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Dissection of the Building Curved roofs are key form used to celebrate the textile dyeing process,they resemble how the fabric is hanged on the rods during the drying process.

The motive of grid structure, derived from the hanging structure of the drying process is brought into the workshop, pedestrian walkway and the residential verandah.

Skylights and openings are used to direct different amount of light towards certain space and objects to bring focus to the craft.

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Joinery: Workshop bench Designed to make textile dyeing more ergonomic and efficient.

Consist of a long big table space that use for preparing the plant material. The boiler and stove are position at the height where the textile dyer can work comfortably, they can also rinse the fabric and pour the water into the sunken floor. The dark timber decking area allow the water from the boiler to flow straight out without the textile dyer to move the boiler.

Dark Grey Stainless Steel

Polished light grey concrete

Dark waterproofed hardwood

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Joinery: Coffee table Using the grid structure and hanging of fabric, the curved drape of the cloth becomes a storage place. Translucent glass is used so people are still able to look through tabletop and see what is placed on the fabric holder.

Frosted Glass

Brushed Copper

Dyed Canvas Fabric

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Lighting Details Exhibition Lighting

Lighting Details Residentil Corridor Lighting

Pinkys Lane entrance The added greenery from the dye garden liven up the secluded laneway. The hanging of colourfully dyed fabric informed others that this is the home of textile dyers.

Outdoor workshop At this outdoor space, an atmosphere of serenity where the people could concentrate on their craft is created. When the breeze blow, we can hear the rustle of the leaves and fabric. When it rains, people could stand under the covered outdoor area and watch the raindrops drip into the sunken pond.

Indoor drying area A double height space with a series of wooden post and beams structure is used to maximize the space for drying textile. There is a few automated drying racks that are built into the structure so the drying rack could elevate to the upper space, drying faster through the principle of hot air rises.

We can experience the sense of temporal change as the shadow created by the posts, beams and fabric move across the space.

At the same time, the coloured transclucent fabric form diffused coloured light as the sunlight shine through them.

Communal area This shared space catered the residences to cook and interact with each other, fostering a sense of community within the building. It can also be used as a meeting area with visitors and clients.

Myer’s residence The residence is featured with curved roof. The glass roof in Myer’s residence brings light and a sense of outdoor into their home. To prevent glare and overheating, there is built in shade under the glass roof.