Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Kinetic Architecture - Arquitectura Kinetica By Jose Leonidas Mejia Architect


Few projects in mid XX century brought interest on moving structures in a simple way like The Space Needle in Seattle since 1962,The Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany with the retractable roof, between others. Now, when I  became a licensed architect abroad some years ago, I consolidate a design concept that I denominated " Kinetic Architecture", originally I called in Spanish language "Arquitectura KinĂ©tica" with the purpose to explore in a wide way a deepen content for the concept where more than just a simple retractable or rotating building were involved, It had a real challenge to transform the building in a multiple displacement of a whole structure. In fact, the term I created : Kinetic Architecture is a parallel invention I created in 1989 without acknowledging that professor Suck had same name for the term in 1970. The term "Kinetic Architecture" was unknown in most part of the world. In my former region, Colombia, South America, there were no such studies on the theme nor even mentioned among my friends or colleagues, in fact, the first time I mentioned the concept sound intriguing, but I kept exploring Kinetic Architecture in depth, so I decided to design a project that I called: The Arkinetic House,which along the years,I improved in great extent. New features I added way back 2008 when studying Environmental Systems in College and implemented renewable energy, gray and storage rain water systems into my project. (see plan 1).
Now, in my conversation with Prof. Zuk from the USA mentioned that he and Prof. Roger Clark wrote a book in 1970 entitled "Kinetic Architecture". That book was unknown in the world. Then in 2010 I talked with Prof. Gerald Udell, he is the Director of the Innovation Institute in Missuri, USA and agreed with me on the fact that parallel inventions occur even in different times and he said that in my case is a true fact that I did created the concept "Arkinetic"( Kinetic Architecture ) , because technology and global information was limited, plus the fact that I created the term in Spanish language "Arkinetic" and for being in a far away country made solid my reasons to keep pride on the uniqueness of my term invention, especially because of the experimental project I am working right now: "The Arkinetic House".
Now, my definition of the concept is as follows:
" Kinetic Architecture" is the property of a building to respond to changing conditions such as use, aesthetic or environmental factors that would alter architectural form. The use of robotics, mechanics and electronics fed by renewable energy are being better known as new approaches into its architectural possibilities.
As I said above, I am working on the design of a experimental project that I denominated "The Arkinetic House", exploring new features to move its structural elements in all directions using my invention of MDS Multiple Displacement of Structure, which is a real transformation of the building each day.
Renewable energy sources will feed the project in different ways, especially by enduring the environment.
Currently in this 2020, the Arkinetic House is an experimental project that I have shared to some contacts at NASA and other scientists in Europe to achieve a technology that allows the transformation of the structure in a time cycle device using light weight material. 
I am doing an invitation to all students at the school of architecture around the globe to improve new ideas on kinetic architecture and o feel free o contact me at any time.