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Soft Solar Shades

Knit Shadows is a responsive window installation made from a field of colorful knitted tiles. Each four-point textile is stretched into a curved surface and connected to a servo mechanism that opens or closes the tile as light conditions change. Together, the tiles form a screen whose density varies throughout the day.

As the tiles move, they alter how much light enters and how much of the view remains visible. Their changing positions also reshape the shadows and colors cast inside the room. The knit’s elasticity allows the surface to deform with the mechanism, making the textile part of the shade’s movement rather than a fixed covering.

The project explores window shading as a spatial and sensory experience. Its small, repeated movements make the relationship between daylight, material, and interior space visible. A manual control also allows people to adjust the shades directly.

Project information

  • Project type: Responsive window installation and shading research

  • Presented at: ARCC 2026

  • Materials and components: Knitted textiles, servo motors, light sensors, and arduino control system

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