BUIILDING SKINS AS KINETIC PROCESS: SOME PRECEDENT FROM THE FINE ARTS
- Publication Type:
- Article
- Issue Date:
- 2007-10-05T01:31:05Z
Open Access
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Open Access
This item is open access.
The aesthetics of form in motion has been a central preoccupation for the visual arts of the
twentieth century, culminating in the establishment of kinetic art as a distinct area of activity in
the 1950's. Architecture has traditionally resisted ‘building kinetics’, but has embraced the body
in motion, usually on foot negotiating in (subtle) interaction with static form. However, one
aspect in which kinetics would appear to be acceptable is at the building periphery, where
intelligent facades track sun angles, or moderate air movement in response to internal
temperature sensors. On another track is the proliferation of media facades in various guises
that transform facades into urban information interfaces or media art works. This paper suggests
that both intelligent and media facades set a different agenda for designers who have
traditionally worked towards finding the best static mix of performance and elegance. Arguably,
intelligent and media facades raises the question of ontology from a designer perspective - what
are the design parameters when the outcome is a kinetic system, rather than the traditional
static artifact? In order to approach the issue, this paper examines some precedent from kinetic
art of the 1960’s and contemporary generative arts, for the insight they may provide. These
sources then inform a preliminary outline of the range of parameters that may be considered by
designers.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: