A Research Prototype for Kinetic Thin Glass Building Envelopes

This paper presents a kinetic research prototype for a space dynamically enclosed by transparent material. The prototype is made of polycarbonate strips, cold-bent into arches, and actuated by rotating their footings. The prototype demonstrates the novel use of a transparent material to create architectural space and highlights the potential of its use for creating kinetic facades. A study to produce an iteration of the prototype using thin glass as the dominant transparent material demonstrates the structural capacity of the glass for dramatic kinetic performance, and at the same time highlights various aspects for further careful consideration.