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Dutch red
Modular textile wall panels
This modular panel system demonstrates how textile upcycling can be integrated into a system of individual panels. Together they create a cohesive visual, yet they offer the flexibility to be rearranged or expanded at will.
Visual language and composition
The starting point is the red-and-white check (Gingham), an iconic element in Dutch visual culture. Where this pattern often evokes nostalgia, from kitchen towels and baby bedding to Brabants bont tableware, Dutch Red uses that familiarity as a building block for a quiet, contemporary composition.
The set consists of three panels that communicate through their division of planes and recurring details such as bias tape and lace. This connecting rhythm ensures that the composition holds together regardless of the order. The panels can be hung in a tight cluster or spread across a wall without losing visual unity.
Modularity as a system
The essence of this work lies in its inherent modularity. Each panel is equipped with mounting points on both the top and sides, allowing for seamless horizontal or vertical installation. This flexibility ensures the configuration can be easily adapted to changing layouts or expanded over time, for instance, by integrating panels with sublimation-printed imagery. The system is designed to evolve alongside its environment.
This prototype demonstrates how an interior object can offer flexibility within a clear framework. The design is particularly suited to environments where calm and recognition are central, such as care facilities and public spaces.
Read more in this article about how storytelling in interiors works with familiar icons and shared heritage. The work is part of the Heritage Material Design series, in which the history of everyday materials is translated into a contemporary and meaningful presence in today’s interiors.
Detail photos and materials used
Prototype of modular textile wall panels
Adjustable parameters
- Number of panels per set
- Configuration: compact cluster, spread across the wall, or corner arrangement
- Orientation per panel: portrait or landscape
- Spacing between panels
- Total width and height of the composition tailored to the space
- Degree of contrast: varying levels of contrast between elements, solid areas, tape or lace
- Optional: additional acoustic backing for sound absorption
Applicability of the technique
- Extended displays: For seamless integration into long corridors and expansive wall surfaces.
- Designed for corners and irregular or broken wall layouts.
- A modular solution for multipurpose areas and agile work environments
Upcycled materials
- Vintage fabric scraps from textile samples
- Bias tape
- Vintage lace
- Upcycled picture frames