Weaving Warmth
Exploring how to reduce energy consumption through decorative and insulating textiles.
The energy challenge is at the heart of many contemporary debates.
On a local scale, it relates mainly to electricity and gas bills. On a larger scale, it relates to global warming and geopolitical dependence. We often hear that we should aim for carbon-free energy. However, shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is not enough. Western societies rely heavily on abundant energy. We overconsume it when we should aim for energy sobriety.
On top of the high cost for the climate, we have reached a point where energy prices will only keep rising.
Whether the motives for saving energy relate to environmental or money concerns, solutions must be found. Regarding heating, the most efficient solution to this day remains insulation. However, whilst there are effective ways of insulating homes, for people who rent, low-income families, and those who live in historic homes, those techniques are either too difficult or too costly to achieve.
This project aims to offer a solution to adapt already existing dwellings into more energy efficient places without having to do any work. Unlike traditional insulation, which is hidden from view, my settings are visible and decorative. The colours used are also a key element to enhance our perception of warmth, playing here with synaesthesia. As they are external to the walls, they can be taken with you from home to home.
The settings I create target heat loss in a dwelling to limit the changes in temperature and combine craft techniques with highly insulating materials.
I hope this project opens a path towards more desirable insulation, making it part of our everyday lives. I aim to make insulation more accessible with the hope it will help us achieve energy sobriety without us having to make sacrifices.
Élodie Glikson
elodie.glikson@gmail.com