brisbane airport kinetic parking garage facade by ned kahn + UAP

brisbane airport kinetic parking garage facade by ned kahn, hassell architecture and UAP images © UAP

american artist ned kahn, has collaborated with hassell architecture, UAP and the brisbane airport corporation to create an eight-storey, five-thousand square meter kinetic façade for the car park of brisbane’s domestic terminal. viewed from the exterior, the parkade’s entire exterior face will appear to ripple fluidly as the wind activates 118,000 suspended aluminium panels. as it responds to the ever-changing patterns of the wind, the elevation will create a direct interface between the installation and its natural environment.

as a site-specific reference to the city’s most iconic natural feature, the feature is elaborated with fluttering lines from the surface of the brisbane river. inside the car park, intricate patterns of light and shadows are projected onto the walls and floor as sunlight passes through the external panelling system. this provides practical environmental benefits such as shade and natural ventilation for the interior space of the lot.

exterior simulating the ripple effect on the facade

detail of the aluminum panels

elevation showing the brisbane river’s silhouette

construction process of the aluminum panels

assembly process

via the creators project