Agnes Parker

Rain + Shine: Climate Adaptive Responsive Architecture 

Designer Agnes Parker created ‘Rain + Shine: Climate Adaptive Responsive Architecture’ in response to extreme heat and rainfall in urban environments. The work is made from natural materials that respond to the weather and was developed using a computer-controlled flat knitting machine, with some parts of the textile dense and others open. 

At the TextielLab, Parker experimented with different fibres and knitting techniques to enhance passive climate effects. Moisture-absorbing cellulose fibres were combined with water-repellent fibres that retain rain, allowing the textile to provide evaporative cooling: it offers shade and relief from heat, captures rainwater, and lets it evaporate to naturally cool the surrounding environment. 

The project was presented in 2025 at the MIT Architecture Thesis Presentation in the United States. In addition, Agnes Parker was selected as one of eight young designers worldwide to showcase her work at the Venice Architecture Biënnale from 20 May to 26 November 2025.