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Kinetic facades by environmental artist Ned Kahn, composed of thousands of centimetric aluminum panels that respond harmoniously to shifting winds, have recently been the subject of an in-depth scientific study. Researchers [1] analyzed videos of works such as the Swiss Science Center Technorama facade and conducted laboratory wind tunnel experiments with a chain of millimetric pendulum plates to unravel the physical mechanisms behind the unique patterns observed in these installations.
Shimmer wall, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Their analysis revealed that at low wind speeds, each pendulum’s response is primarily driven by resonance at its natural frequency. In contrast, at higher wind speeds, the response is dominated by turbulent pressure fluctuations carried by the wind across the facade. These fluctuations generate waves propagating along the pendulum chain, creating the undulating patterns characteristic of Kahn’s works.
The study, titled Large-scale turbulent pressure fluctuations revealed by Ned Kahn’s artwork, published in Physical Review Fluids on November 14, 2024, sheds light on the invisible forces that give rise to the shimmering, ever-changing patterns of kinetic facades. The researchers identified two branches of dispersion relations, corresponding to distinct propagation modes of waves along the pendulum chains. This discovery offers deeper insight into the interplay between architectural structures and natural phenomena, paving the way for future designs that harmoniously integrate art and science.
Ned Kahn, recipient of the MacArthur Foundation’s “Genius Grant” in 2003 and the National Design Award for Environmental Design in 2005, is celebrated for installations that make the invisible forces of nature, such as wind and air currents, visible. His works, such as “Turbulent Line” at Brisbane Airport, where 250,000 articulated aluminum panels react to breezes, exemplify this artistic vision. This scientific study provides a fresh perspective on his work, demonstrating how underlying physical principles contribute to the beauty and dynamism of his installations.
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Reference
Large-scale turbulent pressure fluctuations revealed by Ned Kahn’s artwork, Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 114604 – Published 14 November, 2024
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.114604
Contact
Jishen Zhang jishen.zhang@espci.psl.eu