Kwsa Balla Gluasadach by Leva Engineering

Kwsa Balla Gluasadach by Leva Engineering is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Duais Airgid A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Stàlaidh Competition Category.

AirgeadStàladh· 2025

Kwsa Balla Gluasadach

by Leva Engineering

Client: Leva Engineering

Duais Airgid A' Design Award Winner in Stàladh Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Kwsa Balla Gluasadach

'S e ballachan gluasadach a th' ann an Kwsa, stàladh a tha suidhichte aig Ionad Ùr-ghnàthachaidh Aramco ann an Riyadh. Tha an obair a' còmhdach 209 meatairean ceàrnagach agus air a dèanamh de shia ballachan modularach, gach fear 6000 mm de leud agus 7000 mm de dh'àirde. Tha an gluasad air a chruthachadh le 20,000 motair-ceuma a tha a' stiùireadh siostam sònraichte de sgriubhaichean-luaidhe agus luamhain le pongalachd de 0.1 mm. Chan fheum na co-phàirtean, a tha air an dèanamh de theicneapoileamairean fèin-lìomhaidh, olachadh sam bith, agus tha iad a' ceadachadh ruigsinneachd bhon aghaidh airson obair-glèidhidh. Tha sreathan coireografach air an cruthachadh bho bhidio liath-sgèile, far a bheil luachan soilleireachd a' mìneachadh ìre a' ghluasaid.

The Recognition

About the Duais Airgid A' Design Award

Tha Kwsa Balla Gluasadach air Duais Airgid A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean den chiad ìre, àlainn agus drùidhteach. Tha buannaichean Airgid nan obraichean anabarrach boillsgeach agus gu math cruthachail a nochdas sàr-eòlas, tàlant agus geurchuis an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Kwsa Balla Gluasadach na obair mhìorbhaileach, na sàr-eisimpleir a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus gu domhainn ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Airgid A' Design Award na innleachd glè fhaicsinneach, ion-mholta a bhrosnaicheas crìochan ealain, saidheans, dealbhaidh agus teicneolais. Tha Kwsa Balla Gluasadach na chruthachadh air a bheil mòran eud, a dhùisgeas miannan, a bheir faireachdainnean math agus a thogas iongnadh is miorbhail.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
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.
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.
Team Members: Leva Engineering CEO: Matteo Mosca
Leva Engineering CTO: Gabriele Gambotto
Contractor: Nesma
Engineering Consultant: Dar Al-Handasah
Concept, Design & Media Production: Tamschick Media+Space
System Integrator: Creative Technology