Silver Installation Design · 2025
Kwsa Kinetic Wall
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Installation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Leva Engineering
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 29,545
- Verification code 0DC74ADF9D · Verify this award
About Kwsa Kinetic Wall
Kwsa is a kinetic wall installation located at the Aramco Innovation Center in Riyadh. The work covers 209 square meters and is formed by six modular walls, each 6000 mm wide and 7000 mm high. Motion is produced by 20,000 stepper motors that drive a custom lead screw and lever system with a precision of 0.1 mm. Components made of self-lubricating technopolymers need no lubrication and allow front access for maintenance. Choreographed sequences are created from grayscale video, where brightness values define the degree of movement.
Situated within the evolving tradition of kinetic and responsive architectural installations, Leva Engineering's Kwsa Kinetic Wall represents a sophisticated meditation on the dialogue between static material and dynamic perception, between engineered precision and organic variability. The work emerges from a rich lineage of artists and designers who have explored how systematic repetition of identical elements can generate extraordinary visual complexity through subtle variations in orientation, catching and releasing light in ways that transform architectural surfaces into living, breathing entities. The technical achievement evident in the installation demonstrates mastery of both material science and perceptual psychology, as each triangular panel has been calibrated to respond to environmental conditions while maintaining structural integrity and formal coherence. The chromatic restraint, limiting the palette primarily to the inherent tones of polished metal, allows the interplay of light and shadow to assume primacy, creating what might be understood as a form of environmental drawing wherein illumination itself becomes the expressive medium. Thematically, the work invites contemplation of fundamental dualities: unity and multiplicity, permanence and change, the mechanical and the organic, the individual component and the collective whole. The grid structure evokes associations with both natural crystalline formations and human technological systems, suggesting a synthesis of organic growth patterns and computational logic. Visitors approaching this installation might consider how the work transforms their own movement into an active element of the viewing experience, as shifting vantage points reveal continuously evolving patterns of reflection and shadow, making each encounter unique and unrepeatable.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Kwsa is a 209 square meter kinetic installation located at the Aramco Innovation Center in Riyadh. It is the largest kinetic wall ever built. The system enables fluid, choreographed movement powered by discreet technology. Engineered for long-term reliability and aesthetic simplicity, the wall integrates seamlessly into its environment and contributes to the spatial narrative without drawing attention to its underlying mechanism.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Total surface: 209 square meters.
Configuration: 6 modular walls, each W 6000 mm x H 7000 mm.
Actuation system: 20,000 stepper motors, custom lead screw and lever mechanism.
Precision: 0.1 mm.
Motor update rate: every 20 ms via custom full-duplex protocol.
Control boards: cross-shaped PCBs embedded in chassis.
Maintenance: front access, no lubrication required. - Tags
- Kinetic wall, Mechatronic installation, Interactive architecture, Smart facade, Precision engineering, Hidden technology, Architectural motion, Media art
- Production Technology
- The installation features a custom lever-based motion system powered by high-helix lead screws and 20,000 stepper motors. Motion is controlled by cross-shaped PCBs integrated in the chassis. Components are made of self-lubricating technopolymers. Production involved advanced CAD simulation, CNC machining, precision adhesive bonding tools, and an automated QA pipeline for centesimal repeatability.
- Design Challenge
- A key challenge was ensuring sub-millimeter precision across six modular walls while maintaining silent, front-accessible operation. Custom electronics, motion systems, and mounting structures had to be developed under tight deadlines and Oil & Gas safety standards. Additional complexity came from the need to coordinate with other installations in the space, requiring both mechanical and digital integration from early design stages.
- Project Duration
- The project lasted a total of approximately 12 months:
5 months of prototyping, engineering and testing, 2 months on-site setup, 1 month of tuning. Deployment in 2024. - Operation Flow
- The wall performs choreographed movements that follow pre-programmed sequences, timed with other media in the space. Designers create these sequences using grayscale video inputs, where brightness values determine the degree of motion. A custom 3D simulation tool allows teams to preview and adjust movement in real time, helping to translate visual ideas into physical motion with clarity and control.
- Research
- This applied research aimed to develop a precise and low-maintenance kinetic system for architectural use. The team used CAD simulations, structural analysis, CNC machining, and real-time testing to refine the mechanism. The outcome included a self-lubricating motion system and a control protocol managing 20,000 motors. The result supports scalable, synchronized motion for integration in complex multimedia environments.
- Inspiration
- The design was inspired by the need to create a dynamic architectural feature that integrates naturally with other interactive installations. The objective was to automate motion with high precision while keeping all technology hidden. Every technical decision—from motion control to structural layout—was aimed at achieving visual clarity, acoustic silence, and seamless synchronization within the larger experience.