Architectural Applications of Electronic Textiles

Led by Professor Robin Muller of NSCAD University's Division of Craft and Dr. Sarah Bonnemaison of Dalhousie University's School of Architecture, this collaborative project seeks to develop "smart" textiles for architectural applications.

Interwoven with lights, sensors and actuators, these textiles will be responsive to sound, movement, sunlight and touch and are being developed as prototypes for such products as curtains, free standing walls, theatrical backdrops, and hung ceilings for tensile roofs.

By filling the gap between traditional textile manufacturing and new technologies, the project will improve the capacity for innovation in the private sector and could lead to an expanded range of products to be produced by the commercial partners. ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund has committed over $1 million toward the three-year project with an estimated total project cost of $1.4 million.

Robin E. Muller received her BFA degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976 and her MFA degree from University of Michigan in 1978. She worked at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco and the University of North Dakota before joining the faculty of NSCAD in 1979. She has taught weaving, specializing in complex structures and introducing Jacquard weaving into the curriculum. She has also taught book arts, foundation and craft history.

After years of doing geometric weavings, she began using travel photos to create artist’s books, and jacquard weavings. Robin Muller’s art work has been exhibited across the US and Canada as well as Norway, Finland, France, Korea and 3 African countries. Her weavings and artist’s books are included in private and public collections including The National Museum of Civilization in Ottawa and the Nova Scotia Art Bank.

She has traveled to Europe, India, China, Japan and Peru to study and document traditional textiles and their makers.

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