Sustainable vision of kinetic architecture

Abstract

Architecture has always been part design and part science, but, once again, we are in an era where the two have great potential to help one another. A design-science marriage will be key as both scientists and designers strive to push their respective fields forward. Each can provide insight into the other as designers can help scientists think ‘outside of the box’ while scientists bring newfound technologies and theories to design disciplines – including the architecture process. By incorporating motion into architecture, designers give occupants another dimension by which to interact with their surroundings. Architects can not only communicate motion, but can also engage occupants in what it means to have transition and morphing states of architecture. When done properly, kinetic architecture can inspire, surprise and even touch the soul. This introduction to kinetic architecture highlights its purposes and benefits, and provides strategies for designing and constructing moving building elements that optimize sustainability in architecture. This article proposes an initial conceptual framework for the exploration of the sustainable engaging attributes of kinetic architectural structures. It will serve as one of the first attempts to understand, define and frame kinetic architecture from a complex adaptive environmental approach. The article also attempts to bring together the camps of performative, responsive and adaptive environments under the rubric of kinetic architecture.