Paulina Asisa Nowbachtian 

Thermal Landscapes

Paulina Asisa Nowbachtian graduated from Stuttgart Art Academy in early 2024 with Thermal landscapes. The project investigates how textiles can literally and figuratively make interiors warmer. In the TextielLab, Nowbachtian developed a series of woven ceiling sculptures and room dividers made of natural materials that aim to integrate textiles into interiors in an energy-efficient, comfortable and attractive way.

With Marjan van Oeffelt, Nowbachtian experimented with layered woollen fabrics that improve thermal comfort. Together, they scaled up Nowbachtian’s hand-woven samples on the industrial jacquard looms. In the process, they developed a method that uses contrasting satin weaves to produce a wavy effect in the fabric. Nowbachtian made four different textile sculptures using this method. She draped these around cardboard tubes that can be hung in a space as soft insulating objects. She also experimented with layered fabrics that eventually became self-supporting structures that can be used as mobile insulating walls.