kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower’s stonework in french theme park

206 custom modules form the expressive moving face.

Matteo Mosca edited by christina vergopoulou September 28, 2025 3 min

Leva designs kinetic face for Puy du Fou’s L’Épée du Roi Arthur

Turin-based engineering firm Leva has developed a large-scale kinetic face installation for L’Épée du Roi Arthur, one of the performances at France’s Puy du Fou historical theme park. The permanent outdoor structure takes the form of a moving face, integrated into a tower, which animates during the show to represent the sorceress Morgane.

The installation combines mechanical precision with theatrical staging. Measuring 12 sqm, the sculpture is composed of 206 custom-designed modules, each driven by a linear actuator with a 70-cm travel range. These elements work together to create a continuously moving surface capable of fluid, lifelike expression while remaining durable under outdoor performance conditions.

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 1 — all images courtesy of Leva

kinetic face demonstrates the role of motion in stage design

At the core of the project is Leva’s proprietary motion control system, which synchronizes the movements of every actuator. This allows the face to perform nuanced gestures and shifts that integrate into the show’s narrative. The design team optimized the arrangement of modules to maximize visual resolution, ensuring the sculpture’s geometry remains clear and legible from audience viewing distances.

The material and structural strategies emphasize both efficiency and long-term operability. Maintenance requirements were considered during the design phase, with modular construction simplifying future adjustments. The result is a dynamic wall sculpture that merges engineering with performance design, enhancing the immersive qualities of the Arthurian story. Leva’s kinetic face installation at Puy du Fou extends the company’s portfolio of large-scale kinetic works. Previous projects include the world’s largest kinetic wall for Aramco’s VIP innovation center and an interactive tunnel inspired by desert dunes in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 2 — Leva designs a kinetic face for Puy du Fou’s L’Épée du Roi Arthur

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 3 — the moving sculpture represents the sorceress Morgane on stage

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 4 — a 12-square-meter surface animates within a stone tower

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 5 — the installation merges engineering precision with live performance

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 6 — 206 custom modules form the expressive moving face

kinetic-sculpture-moving-face-tower-stonework-french-historical-theme-park-leva-designboom-1800-2 — together, the modules create lifelike and fluid motion

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 7 — optimized module layout ensures visual resolution and clarity

kinetic sculpture outlines moving face onto tower's stonework in french theme park - 8 — the kinetic face integrates into the show’s narrative

project info:

name: Kinetic Face
designer-engineer: Leva | @leva.io

location: Puy Du Fou, Les Epesses, France

client: Puy Du Fou

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