There is a clear overlap between architecture and textile design in terms of working methods and themes. Both disciplines oscillate between occupying space and creating it. Both offer comfort, give shape to everyday rituals and tell stories. But the differences are just as pronounced. Each field creates different possibilities for the tectonic expression and tactility of design, and for the experience of it, based on its material conditions and history. 

For a long time, textiles were subordinate to architecture and conformed to its frameworks. Now that it has become an independent field of work, textiles inspire architecture in multifaceted interactions. We highlight this dialogue in six historical perspectives, supplemented by the work of several contemporary Belgian textile designers.