Kinetic systems in architecture: New approach for environmental control systems and context-sensitive buildings

Kinetic architecture is a design concept in contemporary architecture, which explores the physical transformation of a building with the objective to redefine traditional applications of motion through technological innovation. The use of robotics, mechanics and electronics is essential to this new approach.Using these new technologies, architects are not any more tied up to traditional ideas of structural balance; the wall now is to move, the roof is to be folded and the whole building is to revolve.This paper is about to discuss this new trend and answer some questions about how far could it introduce real solutions to architectural problems, to how extent could these solutions be supportive to environmental control systems, and how could they help developing the interaction between the building and its context.