01 Weavery & Plant Dye
wv
weaving natural fibre
The programmatic functionalities of the first subsystem encompass the processes from hemp cultivation to naturally dyed textiles. As hemp is widely used as a cover crop, positioned between main agricultural crops, farmers in Hesse are capitalizing on the trend surrounding hemp products. Delivered to the southern part of the first hall, the hemp undergoes several mechanical processes in the northern part of the adapted structure, including water retting (using adapted washing facilities), decortication (which separates the fibre from the core), and finally spinning. This production is sustainable, generating by-products that can be reused in cosmetics, insulation, and as habitat enhancements for the site’s ecology.
Following the spinning process, the fibre is moved through a transition space into the second phase of production, where it is woven and knitted into fabrics. This process is partially mechanized and partially handcrafted to foster education about sustainable consumption through integrative workshops with the wider public. These workshop spaces also facilitate techniques for natural plant dye processes.
Flora, like seasonal and native flowers and herbs, is cultivated directly in the weaving subsystem as the correlating element of flora, simultaneously fostering species for fauna. Transition zones, as well as green roofs and special walls designed for animal housing, increase the subsystem’s biodiversity factors. For more exotic colors and options for plant dye, the workshop space is adjacent to the greenhouse from the biodiversity lab, where uncommon species are grown to further expand the dyeing possibilities.
The entire facility is designed to be an open visitor space, with active and passive workshop areas co-existing with the natural beaver habitat and the recreational area of the wetlands. With its adaptive reuse function, the former builder’s yard is transformed into a space for sustainable textile production and as a cultural extension for both the human and more-than-human public.
The strategy involves the adaptive reuse of the building, dismantling historic layers to return to the original two halls. Adapted spaces are inserted to serve dual functions: public spaces and infrastructure alongside—or integrated with—rewilded landscapes as outlined in the toolkit.
The middle area is nearly completely open, as are the spaces between the weaver and the culture center. This design creates cultivated open public spaces of varying heights, opening up the structure to eliminate the feeling of narrow hallways and establish a direct connection to the other side of the site.
This approach blends nature and urban elements in a puzzle of adaptation, chaotic natural growth, and the human-oriented programs of the place—forming synergies that enhance both ecological and social functions.