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Soma’s “One Ocean” pavilion in South Korea for the EXPO 2012 is now finished. The kinetic facade is made up of 108 fiberglass lamellas that open and close. The actuator of the lamellas is a screw spindle driven by a servomotor. A computer controlled bus-system allows the synchronization of the actuators. Each lamella can be addressed individually within a specific logic of movement to show different choreographies and operation modes. Pictured is a lamella mock-up.
From soma:
General Information -The Thematic Pavilion is a major and permanent building for the Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South-Korea. soma’s design proposal was selected as the first prize winner in an open international architecture competition.
The main design intent was to embody the Expo’s theme “The Living Ocean and Coast” and transform it into a multi-layered architectural experience. Therefore the Expo’s agenda, namely the responsible use of natural resources was not visually represented, but actually embedded into the building, e.g. through the sustainable climate design or the biomimetic approach of the kinetic façade.
Design Concept - We experience the Ocean mainly in two ways, as an endless surface and in an immersed perspective as depth. This plain/profound duality of the Ocean motivates the building’s spatial and organizational concept. Continuous surfaces twist from vertical to horizontal orientation and define all significant interior spaces. The vertical cones invite the visitor to immerse into the Thematic Exhibition. They evolve into horizontal levels that cover the foyer and become a flexible stage for the „Best Practice Area“.
Continuous transitions between contrasting experiences also form the outer appearance of the Pavilion. Towards the sea the conglomeration of solid vertical cones define a new meandering coast line, a soft edge that is in constant negotiation between water and land. Opposite side the pavilion develops out of the ground into an artificial roof–landscape with gardens and scenic paths. The topographic lines of the roof turn into lamellas of the kinetic media façade that faces the Expo’s entrance and the “Digital Gallery”.
Urban Context - The building is constructed in a former industrial harbor along a new promenade embracing the “Big O”. After the Expo and the aspired improvement of water quality the promenade will be transformed into an “urban beach” offering leisure activities to the public.
Program and Circulation - The main entrance is situated on Ocean Plaza, which is partly covered by the pavilion to achieve a shaded outdoor waiting area. The space boundaries of the open foyer are defined by the twisting surfaces of the cones. The interstitial spaces between them frame the view onto the Ocean and create niches for the visitors to take a pause from the exhibition. The sequence of pre-show, main show and post show is spatially modulated: Lingering through the first two small cones with a ceiling height of 6m people arrive at the main show, an breath-taking 20 meter high space of 1000sqm. After the show people arrive again at the lower and more intimate post-show that leads to the café and a swimming island in the open water, where they can relax and experience the movement of the Ocean. Visitors with a deeper interest can take the escalator to the second level, where the Best Practice Area, an open, flexible day-lit space is located. Here institutions will present their research in fields like renewable energies or marine technology. From the foyer or the Best Practice Area visitors can take stairs or lifts up to the roof top garden. The roof-landscape functions as a third exhibition area, which invites people to relax and enjoy a 360-degree view over the Expo site. Roof gardens will be covered with plants of the local coast. To leave the pavilion people stroll down a meandering ramp with panoramic views onto the surrounding Ocean and the islands.
Analogue Effects - As a counterpart to the virtual multi-media shows of the thematic exhibition taking place in its interior spaces, the kinetic façade, like the building as a whole, emphasizes the manifold potentials of analogue architectural effects.
The lamellas were already proposed in the competition phase and later on developed together with Knippers Helbig Engineers. The architectural effect aimed at was a smoothly moving façade that is seamlessly integrated into the overall continuous skin of the pavilion.
To achieve the architectural intention a mechanical solution that applies hinges and joints seemed inappropriate, therefore a biomimetic approach was chosen. The smooth movement recalls organic references, the building itself appears “animated”.
Furthermore the biomimetic approach meets the client’s wish to make the Thematic Pavilion a showcase of a future architecture that learns from nature. As a moving, emotional experience the kinetic façade combines sensations with the sensational, while communicating the Expo’s theme in an innovative and investigative way.
Biomimetic approach - The facade covers a total length of about 140 m, and is between 3 m and 13 m high. It consists of 108 kinetic lamellas, which are supported at the top and the bottom edge of the façade. The lamellas are made of glass fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), which combine high tensile strength with low bending stiffness, allowing for large reversible elastic deformations. The lamellas are moved by actuators on both the upper and lower edge of the FRP blade, which induce compression forces to create the complex elastic deformation. They reduce the distance between the two bearings and in this way induce a bending which results in a side rotation of the lamella. The actuator of the lamellas is a screw spindle driven by a servomotor. A computer controlled bus-system allows the synchronization of the actuators. Each lamella can be addressed individually within a specific logic of movement to show different choreographies and operation modes. Upper and lower motors often work with opposite power requirements (driving – braking). Therefore generated energy can be fed back into the local system to save energy.
The material performance of the biomimetic lamellas produces an interrelated effect of geometry, movement and light: The longer the single lamella – the wider the angle of opening – the bigger the area affected by light.
Kinetic Facade - Beside their function to control light conditions in the foyer and the Best Practice Area the moving the lamellas create animated patterns on the façade. The choreography will span from subtle local movements to overall waves effecting the whole length of the building.
The architectural intention was to produce a choreography and imagery out of the building’s own layers, without displaying any further media “content”. After sunset the analogue visual effect of the moving lamellas is intensified by linear LED bars, which are located at the inner side of the front edge of the lamella. In opened position the LED can light the neighboring lamella depending on the opening angle.
Although movement is intrinsic to any media facade, architecture is usually considered as the stable, immobile background for it. By involving real movement the kinetic facade aims to unify those usually isolated layers of architecture and media and define it as an interrelated and inseparable three-dimensional experience.
Instead of communicating “content” the kinetic facade adds an atmospheric layer to the Thematic Pavilion that is based on subtle effects or “mood”. The choreography will rely on abstract patterns of color, different speeds of movement, or variation in the angles of opening and closing.
Climate Design - The foyer and the Best Practice Area are naturally ventilated. Therefore the interstitial spaces between the cones are orientated towards the prevailing wind direction. In the large vertical exhibitions, air will be infused through the floor, to reduce the amount of conditioned volume. During daytime the kinetic lamellas are used to control solar input. They will be operated by energy gained through solar panels on the roof. The building’s performance was analyzed in detailed simulations to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency.
Structure - The different appearances of the building – open towards the Expo site and compact towards the sea- is also routed in the constraints of the site. Facing the open sea the reinforced concrete cones prevent the pavilion from damage through typhoons and high waves. The roof and the kinetic façade will have a steel sub-structure. The kinetic façade will be produced out of FRP and uses the material characteristics and flexibility for its mode of operation.