Kinetic Wall | Barkow Leibinger

Kinetic Wall, German architects Frank Barkow and Regine Leibinger present the shape-shifting prototype “Kinetic wall” created for the International Architecture Biennale 2014 in Venice. The wall’s surface rhythmically expands and contracts so it looks like breathing in and out aiming to “revisit the Utopian dream of an architecture that can move” said the architects.

Kinetic Wall

© Johannes Foerster

The surface is activated by a pattern of motorized nodes behind the translucent synthetic fabric; the architects describe it as “Peaks and Valleys.”  This element focus on architectural components such as elevators which “have never really been incorporated into either the ideology or the theory of architecture,” says curator Rem Koolhaas.

Project info:
Architects: Barkow Leibinger
Country: Italy, Venice
Year: 2014
Photographs: Johannes Foerster, Iwan Baan

Madeline Brooks
Madeline Brooks

Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.

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