Written by: Saram Maqbool
Posted on: February 12, 2024 | 
| 中文
A building in China with a moving facade that makes music
In the face of rapidly advancing climate change, architects and designers are continually seeking innovative solutions to mitigate its effects. Both active and passive ways to control elements like natural light and wind are being used but there’s always room for more revolutionary ideas. One such solution gaining traction is kinetic architecture. It’s a fascinating field of design that seems a little too good to be true at first. However, it’s very real and quite helpful, if done right.
So, what is kinetic architecture? As the name would suggest to those who know what kinetic energy is, this type of building design incorporates movement into the structure. Kinetic architecture encompasses a diverse range of structures that can change form, shape, or position in response to various stimuli, such as sunlight, wind, temperature or user interaction. These dynamic elements may include movable facades, retractable roofs, adjustable louvers, and even entire buildings that can rotate or adapt to external conditions.
The pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum opens and closes based on the time of the day
By incorporating dynamic elements that respond to environmental conditions, kinetic architecture not only enhances functionality and aesthetics but also offers significant potential in combating climate change. One of the primary advantages of such a design lies in its ability to harness renewable energy sources. By incorporating mechanisms that capture and utilize solar, wind, or kinetic energy, these structures can significantly reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy sources. For example, buildings with solar-tracking facades or sun-tracking panels can optimize solar exposure throughout the day, maximizing energy generation. Similarly, wind-responsive kinetic elements, such as kinetic wind turbines integrated into building facades or rooftops, can harness wind energy in urban environments where conventional wind farms may not be feasible. These innovations not only contribute to the generation of clean energy, but also promote sustainability by reducing carbon emissions.
The operable interactive village hut, Wuji, Zuhang, China
Another key benefit of kinetic architecture is its capacity to enhance natural ventilation, daylighting and thermal comfort within buildings. Dynamic facades and shading systems can adjust their configurations based on weather conditions, optimizing indoor temperature and reducing the need for mechanical heating or cooling. An example of this is the Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi. These twin skyscrapers feature a striking facade composed of over 2,000 individual responsive panels inspired by traditional Arabic screens. Each panel has a series of hexagonal modules that open and close in response to the sun's position, shading the building's interior from harsh glare and reducing solar heat gain. Thanks to this solution, the building doesn’t need to rely much on mechanical ventilation, as it would have to, otherwise. Not only that, but the design also looks visually stunning and reflects the region’s heritage.
The facade of the Arab World Institute controls the amount of light that enters
Another iconic example of kinetic architecture that helps regulate temperature inside a man-made structure is that of The Eden Project in the UK. This is a series of biomes that look like something that’s come straight out of a science-fiction movie. These giant bubbles emerge from the earth, containing within them diverse ecosystems including tropical rainforests. The Eden Project uses a material called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or ETFE. This dynamic material is what controls both the temperature and humidity levels inside the biomes. The transparent pillow-like structures inflate or deflate in response to changes in external conditions, offering natural ventilation while minimizing energy consumption.
The Eden Project in the UK
A smaller, and more relatable, example comes from Iran. The Sharifi-Ha House stands somewhere on the streets of Tehran, and looks more like a transformer than a house most of the time. That’s because its three cube-like tiers have the ability to rotate independently, completely transforming the structure. Users can decide how to position their floor for the most thermal, visual or spatial comfort. They can increase the sunlight that penetrates to their floor, get views of the cityscape or create a private balcony, depending on their preference. If this project doesn’t get you excited about the future of kinetic architecture, I don’t know what will.
Sharifi-Ha House in Tehran, Iran
The Sharifi-Ha House leads me nicely to the next point: reimagining urban infrastructure. Using the technologies underlying kinetic design, deployable structures such as flood barriers, retractable bridges, and adaptable public spaces may be created to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels in various cities around the world. By integrating flexibility and resilience into urban design, cities can enhance their adaptive capacity and minimize the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate-related risks.
While kinetic architecture holds immense promise in addressing climate change, several challenges must be overcome to realize its full potential. These include technological limitations, cost considerations and integration with existing building practices and regulations. This is especially true for countries like Pakistan, where hiring an architect to get a structure designed is considered a luxury even in this day and age. However, despite all the challenges, it is quite clear that dynamic architecture holds great potential in reducing energy costs and increasing user comfort inside buildings. Hopefully, we can soon find ways to deal with the issues facing the widespread adoption of kinetic architecture, so our urban spaces can become friendlier, more usable and more sustainable over time.
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