Kwsa Kinetische Wand by Leva Engineering is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Zilver in Interactieve, Ervaringsgerichte en Immersieve Ontwerpinstallaties Competition Category.
ZilverInstallatie· 2025
Kwsa Kinetische Wand
Client: Leva Engineering
A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Installatie Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Kwsa Kinetische Wand
Kwsa is een kinetische wandinstallatie in het Aramco Innovation Center in Riyad. Het werk beslaat 209 vierkante meter en wordt gevormd door zes modulaire wanden, elk 6000 mm breed en 7000 mm hoog. De beweging wordt voortgebracht door 20.000 stappenmotoren die een op maat gemaakt systeem van schroefspindels en hefbomen aandrijven met een precisie van 0,1 mm. Componenten van zelfsmerende technopolymeren hebben geen smering nodig en zijn voor onderhoud aan de voorzijde toegankelijk. Gechoreografeerde sequenties worden gecreëerd op basis van grijswaardenvideo, waarbij de helderheidswaarden de mate van beweging bepalen.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award in Zilver
Kwsa Kinetische Wand is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. Kwsa Kinetische Wand wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. Kwsa Kinetische Wand is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.
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
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