Gisela Stromeyer

The New York based architect Gisela Stromeyer comes from a family of fourth generation German tentmakers. Her father Peter Stromeyer, in partnership with the renowned architect Frei Otto, pioneered exciting innovations in the history of tensile structures. Gisela uses fabric not to create shelter, but to visually and texturally enhance existing spaces (stromeyerdesign.com, 2011).

Gisela Stromeyer is an artist which I found while searching for an inspiration on my interior architecture project of a hotel room influenced by Frei Otto, German architect, construction engineer and university teacher, recognized for his lightweight and tensile structures. I found her artwork helpful for creating my inside design layout. Her practical way of defining space taught me a precious lesson.

Each of Stromeyer’s installations begins with a meticulous examination of the room’s frameworks. She develops sketch drawings into finished plans and scale models, then cuts and sews the fabric herself (stromeyerdesign.com, 2011).

She creates fabric sculptures, floor lamps and underwater sculptures.

While she is aware of the logic behind conventional rectilinear spaces, Stromeyer is drawn to building with fabric because it allows her to create sensuous, moving forms. When accented by light, the graceful symmetries of the forms come to life (stromeyerdesign.com, 2011).

She was honored with five awards for outstanding achievement in design and fabrication of the IFAI and best of furniture award by iD magazine with her Floor lamps, now in permanent collection at the Denver Art Museum. (Stromeyer, 2011)

‘My architecture training taught me how to perceive and define spaces and to turn my vision into a built form. It was my experience as a dancer, however, that allows me to sense space as movement. Spaces are fluid.”Architecture can be so linear and rigid. It’s usually not shaped like the human body, so it rarely reflects our natural longings for softness, flexibility and flow. We long for spaces that not only contain us, but allow our spirits to soar as well.'( Stromeyer, 2011)