Introducing “Architexture” by Richard Frinier
Friday, December 1, 2017
Celebrated designer Richard Frinier shares his strong respect and appreciation for the importance architecture plays in society with a new collection of Sunbrella fabrics. The Architexture Collection, which is set to debut at Showtime Market, echoes architectural design elements found in surface and facade design.
“I became inspired by the architectural movement taking place that involves the surfacing and resurfacing of buildings around the world,” Frinier said. “I am captivated by the many unique layers and materials, such as metals, glass, concrete and other new and repurposed materials, used to create these remarkable architectural facades. The outcome is compelling for their overall design, construct and spatial effects and the impact and influence these buildings have on society.”
Architectural impressions continued to manifest throughout Frinier’s design process and the result is a versatile range of textiles with distinctive constructions, textures, patterns and colors. Fabrics in the Architexture Collection enhance and complement both interior and exterior spaces.
A synthesis of architectural forms and soaring skyscrapers, the pattern NYC translates the vertical facades of the iconic metropolis into a tapestry of urban living. LA is an abstract interpretation inspired by a modern building facade in Los Angeles. Kowloon, a densely-populated area of Hong Kong, was the inspiration behind HiRise, which appears as a textured stripe of tiny windows.
Focusing further on the design elements of architecture, Facade showcases an offset window pattern infused with reflective fiber for a shimmer that creates a sense of energy. Frinier based geometric pattern Hexspace on an architectural window screen he saw on a French metropolitan high-rise building. And the adaptation of a hex-shaped facade as seen on a Shenzhen skyscraper translated into Linx, a dimensional motif.
Reimagined from the window wall of a New York skyscraper, Architex appears as a woven grid pattern. Matrix is a honeycomb pattern originating from slate tiles that transforms into a three-dimensional fabric construction. To complete the collection, Struxture is a versatile construction that references the appearance of exterior surface materials and forms as the base textile for all Architexture Collection patterns.
Colorways in the collection draw upon the building materials, hardscapes, environments and skyscapes surrounding these structural facades. The palette offers a wide range of colors including Vapor, Daylight, Sand, System, Stone, Steel, Brick, Green, Glass, Skyline and Midnight.
The Architexture Collection by Richard Frinier for Sunbrella is available to the manufacturing trade only and will be on display in the Sunbrella showroom located at 336 S. Wrenn Street during Showtime Market, Dec. 3-6, 2017.
