About

Tactility Factory brings textile thinking and technologies to concrete manufacturing.

Tactility Factory expands the potential of concrete from a cold, grey, acoustically harsh and unappealing substance to something that is warm, colourful, acoustically soft and appealing.

We create ‘skins’ that are as robust as concrete yet can be manipulated in colour and pattern- for your branding purposes if required. The skins can be used in multiple applications. TF’s specially developed textiles are the ‘clever’ part of the process, allowing us to produce articulated and patterned surfaces without the need for complex moulds or post-curing processes.

Each partner has had successful careers straddling industry, design and academia. They share a desire to innovate beyond their respective territories, an interest in bringing together the expertise from two indigenous industries (concrete and textiles), to develop new potentials, new futures and surfaces.

TF is currently supported by the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, in the development of a ‘Big Textiles, Big Elements Project.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of Lafarge Tarmac in preparation for the Cool Concrete Stand at Ecobuild 2013

Trish Belford

Trish is regarded as an innovator in the textile industry. Trish originated Belford Prints, London in 1986, a unique textile company supplying to high-end fashion market to clients such as Vivienne Westwood and Jasper Conran. This aspect of commercial innovation and managing a small company of 30 employees is invaluable in the development of Tactility Factory.

Ruth Morrow

Ruth is a qualified architect and has practiced in the UK, Ireland and Germany. She grew up around the quarry industry and aside from her love of concrete, her profile is framed by an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach. She is Professor of Architecture at Queen’s University Belfast.