A striking knitted structure, created using 3D knitting technology by Swiss manufacturer Steiger, is turning heads at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale. The monumental work, titled Necto, is installed at the entrance of the Arsenale Corderie, one of the main venues of the Biennale, and will be on display until November 2025.

Necto is the result of a creative and technical collaboration between architecture firm SO-IL (New York), Professor Mariana Popescu (ETH Zurich and Delft University of Technology), Berlin and New York-based design studio TheGreenEyl, and Steiger, based in Vionnaz, Switzerland. The piece explores the convergence of computational design and material intelligence in the context of temporary, reconfigurable architecture.

Once the Biennale concludes, the knitted surface can be dissolved, packed into hand luggage, and transported for future use

Suspended between the columns of the Arsenale and shaped by tension, Necto features flowing architectural forms that transition from enveloping cone to suspended volume. It has been computationally optimised and knitted by Steiger from 100% natural linen yarn in 12 modular strips. The structure integrates 23 programmable LED yarns and includes nine immersive sound and light scenes that respond to the spatial tension of the textile.

The work is 95% biodegradable, using linen and PVA plastic yarns sourced locally. Its sustainable construction and potential for complete disassembly and reuse underline the project’s commitment to circularity. Once the Biennale concludes, the knitted surface can be dissolved, packed into hand luggage, and transported for future use.

Necto also represents a significant step in an ongoing research collaboration between Steiger and Dr Popescu focused on replacing traditional formwork in concrete construction with tensioned knitted textiles. Steiger has built a dedicated knitting machine in Vionnaz for this purpose and is working on integrating architectural CAD files directly into the knitting process.

With this innovation, Steiger is exploring new frontiers for industrial knitting in civil engineering. Its presence at the Biennale offers a powerful glimpse into the future of textile-based architecture.

Further reading

Knit to find the perfect fit

3D-knitted shells support five-ton concrete structure

www.steiger-textil.ch