Stories on Design: Captivating Curtains.

Look—walls are great, we love them here at Yellowtrace, but have you ever taken a moment to consider the power of the curtain? Far from mundane, the humble textile “structure” has the power to radically alter our perception of space and shape our architecture.

Flexible and versatile, curtains layer light, form and even building skins. From screens and dividers to mesh and PVC, the underestimated furnishing gets a workout in this roundup. Across all design sectors—residential, commercial, retail and hospitality spaces—curtains will surprise you in the most unlikely places.

Step into the curious world of curtains as we gather some of the most captivating examples we’ve come across over the years.

From the unconventional, architectural, metallic, tent-like, colourful, to straight-up weird but amazing, you’ll never look at curtains the same way again.

Stories on Design: Textile Installation Art.

Fabrics and textiles are often associated with upholstery, clothing, or linings, and very rarely do we think of textiles as an "architectural material"...

ARCHITECTURAL & METALLIC CURTAINS.

Terrassenhaus Berlin by Brandlhuber + Emde, Burlon + Muck Petzet. Photography by Erica Overmeer.

Chapel Of Silence by Studio Associates. Photography courtesy of Studio Associates.

M26 extension by BAST Architecture. Photography courtesy of BAST.

House On Lake Zell by Steiner Architecture. Photography by Florian Holzherr.

A11 by BAST Architecture and I Structures. Photography courtesy of BAST.

Silk Faw Installation by Outline Collective. Photography by Veronica de Martin.

Madrid Centro Centro by Hector F Elorza. Photography by Montse Zamorano.

Atelier Gardens Studio 1 in Berlin by MVRDV. Photography by Stefan Korte.

Atelier Gardens Studio 1 in Berlin by MVRDV. Photography by Yasutaka Kojima.

SA Office & Labo in Shibuya City by SAKUMAESHIMA. Photography by Kenta Hasegawa.

Stories On Design: Wrapped Buildings.

Wrapped Buildings are awesome. Why? Because they are just like giant Christmas presents, except way cooler because you get to keep them forever...

Design Unit Studio by Sta Studio. Photography by Napat Pattrayanond.

Veil scaffolding installation by Figure for Craft Contemporary on Wilshire Boulevard, LA. Photography by James Leng.

Veil scaffolding installation by Figure for Craft Contemporary on Wilshire Boulevard, LA. Photography by James Leng.

Photography by James Leng.

Photography by Jennifer Ly.

Veil scaffolding installation by Figure for Craft Contemporary on Wilshire Boulevard, LA. Photography by James Leng.

Veil scaffolding installation by Figure for Craft Contemporary on Wilshire Boulevard, LA. Photography by James Leng.

Blue Building in Bushwick, Brooklyn by Lot Office. Photography by Brian Ferry.

Blue Building in Brooklyn by Lot Office for Architecture.

Commissioned by an artist couple, the complete gut renovation of a centenary townhouse brought the opportunity to create a statement...

Silver Curtain Office in Munich by Buero Wagner. Photography courtesy of Buero Wagner. 

Silver Fox: Munich Office by Buero Wagner.

This two-story office extension utilised industrial materials— aluminium vapour barriers; bubble wrap; galvanized grating, steel and cable trays...

How To Work Together 2014 Installation by Celine Condorelli in Chisenhale Gallery. Photography by Andy Keate.

Wilderness by Nuno Da Luz, 2015. Photography by Bruno Lopes.

Bathyard Home in Madrid by Husos Architects. Photography by Imagen Subliminal.

Bathyard Home in Madrid by Husos Architects: A Flexible Space for Gardening & Bathing.

Combining the homeowner’s love for plants and bathing, Husos Architects came up with the ’Bathyard’ concept; a flexible space for gardening and bathing...

Modes Boutique by Gonzalez Haase. Photography by Melania Dalle Grave and Agnese Bedini courtesy of DSL Studio.

Fattoria Sant Eliseo Farm Shop by Visual Display. Photography by Camilla Bach.

Free Spirit: Fattoria Sant’Eliseo Farm Shop in Udine by Visual Display.

Inspired by the company motto ‘Free spirit farm’, the unexpected interior has a distinctly ‘pop’ feeling, avoiding all rustic stereotypes in favour of daring colours and bold shapes...

TENT-LIKE, COLOURFUL, BONKERS-AMAZING CURTAINS.

Curtain by Julie Richoz for 4 Rooms Kastellorizo. Photography by De Pasquale Maffini.

4Rooms: A Creative Playground in Kastellorizo, Greece.

Candy colours, eye-popping furniture and lights that look like modern spaceships, 4Rooms is a creative sanctuary for the artists who work there...

Above The Clouds boutique in Surry Hills by Pattern Studio. Photography by Traianos Pakioufakis.

Opposites Attract: Above The Clouds Store by Pattern Studio.

The interior unfolds as a celebration of dualities—seemingly disparate concepts co-exist harmoniously, generating a fresh and honest aesthetic...

Locura Bar Byron Bay By Pattern Studio. Photography by Ben Hosking.

Locura Bar in Byron Bay by Pattern Studio.

Tactile materials bring warmth, texture, and colour to this mostly undecorated mexican bar...

P1901 Molliettes House Renovation by Bureau Brisson Architectes. Photography by Alan Hasoo.

1950s Swiss Countryside Villa Renovation by Bureau Brisson Architectes.

A melange of colours and materials adorns Bureau Brisson Architectes' eclectic 1950s villa renovation in Lausanne countryside...

House With Clear Shapes And A Complex Entrance by Jonas Von Ostrowski & Studio Nitsche. Photography by Nicolas Wefers.

Paper Collective Office Showroom by Nikolai Kotlarczyk. Photography by Balder Skånström-Bo.

Paper Collective's Copenhagen Showroom & HQ by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Set across two frontages in Copenhagen, this interior focuses around an ever-changing exhibition space and a multi-faceted office for the growing team...

Cabinette co-working space by Masquespacio. Photography by Luis Beltran.

Cabinette Co-Working Space in Valencia by Masquespacio.

A futuristic palette collides with major 70’s vibes in this co-Working Space, creating a vibrant and brilliantly unconventional contemporary workspace...

Old Scuola Pizzeria by Instability We Trust. Photography by Pim Top.

Old Scuola Pizzeria in Rotterdam by Instability We Trust.

Terrazzo bar elements forms the epicentre of Old Scuola, an industrial production kitchen and pizza restaurant in Rotterdam...

Gheama restaurant in Milan by Rooms Studio. Photography by Adrianna Glaviano.

Celebration of Georgian Culture: Ghaema Milan by Rooms Studio.

Imagined as a meditative space, the restaurant’s design is anchored by the use of simple shapes, raw and natural materials, and repeating motifs...

Kiln by Fiona Lynch Office. Photography by Anson Smart.

Kiln Opens at Ace Hotel Sydney.

This rooftop dining destination, sits 18 stories above Surry Hills’ mosaic rooftops. The glass-walled, 108-seat dining room...

Silversquare Central Brussels coworking space curated by Maniera. Photography by Jeroen Verrecht.

Silversquare Central: Brussels Coworking Space Designed by 12 Architects & Artists, Curated by Maniera.

Twelve progressive architects and artists deconstruct the theme of a co-working space through their own artistic language across...

[Photography credits as noted.]