Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University Architecture and Urban Planning
Ilze Rukmane-Poča, Jānis Krastiņš. The Tendencies of Formal Expression of 21st Century Architecture
2010
Volume 4
Fig. 14. Burg Pavilion. Bruges, Belgium. 2009. Toyo Ito. [29]
Fig. 16. Quadracci Pavilion. Milkovi Art Museum. Milkovi, Wisconsin, ASV.2001. S. Calatrava. [32]
Fig. 15. Children’s Museum. Pitsburg, USA. 2005. H. Koning, J. Eizenberg. [31]
OMA, Peter Testa, Herzog & de Meuron etc. (Figures 12 and 13). Important contributions have been made by Japanese architects as well. Architects working in this direction include Jun Aoki, Makoto Yokomizo, and Toyo Ito (Figure 14). The rapid development of modern technologies allow designing and implementing not just static architectonic objects, it also allows creating visually as well as physically mobile buildings, using multimedia walls or creating moving building parts. This architecture tendency is called Kinetic Architecture. It is „mobile, transformable architecture that is capable of adapting to human needs. It is a method of design that puts the emphasis on the possibilities of physically transforming parts of buildings or constructive systems” [30]. The use of mechanics, as well as robots and electronics creates a new contribution for the development of architecture. In kinetic architecture, the transformations of the spatial structures occur according to the changes of climatic conditions or certain requirements or with the goal of achieving specific goals. The transformations may be minor, moving or changing separate elements of the facade (Figures 15 and 17), or they may be substantial, transforming entire parts of the facade or even the entire building (Figure 16). An interesting idea of kinetic architecture is used in the Institut du Monde Arabe building in Paris, designed by J. Nouvel. The lenses built into the facade
Fig. 17. Institut du Monde Arabe. Paris.The part of façade. 2006. J. Nouvel. [33]
react to lighting and transform themselves accordingly, always providing the necessary amount of light to the building. This is a striking example of both kinetic and ornamental architecture, since the facade uses Arab ornamental patterns. Architecture changes and transforms along with the changes in social-economic processes. The attitude of each individual towards architecture may serve as impulse for innovation. The clearest proof for this may be found in the digital sphere where the developments in one field open broad possibilities for progress in a completely different field. Such points of indirect contact between various disciplines form a reference system for
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