Debenhams is making sure its flagship store catches the eye on one of the country's busiest shopping destinations with its 'kinetic facade'. Using an innovative over-cladding system designed by world renowned artist and sculptor Ned Kahn in conjunction with Archial Architects, the kinetic façade system itself features a series of 2 mm-thick perforated anodised aluminium shingles measuring 127.5 by 127.5 mm. Although only able to move around the horizontal at the fixing, the cumulative effect of the 187,000 shingles is one of a shimmering wave of wind moving across the structure. Client: British Land Main contractor: Wates Construction Contract value: £9.8m Structural engineer: Evolve Architect: Ingenium Archial / Archial NORR Artist: Ned Kahn Project manager: Christal Management Kinetic façade subcontractor: Dane Architectural Systems Structural glazing subcontractor: Hansen Facades Demolition subcontractor: Robore Cuts Filming by Fotohaus for Wates Construction. Movie creation by Wates in-house team. No sound as this was intended to run on a loop in the Wates London Construction office.

Be the first to comment