With kinetIQ, seele consolidates its expertise in movable façades, combining façade engineering with mechanics, drive systems and control technology. In this interview, Michael Seele, Managing Partner of seele, explains why high-performance building envelopes will increasingly require an interdisciplinary approach , why movement is not an end in itself – and why key decisions are already being made in the early stages of planning.
Why is a façade specialist concerned with movement and automation?
Because the demands placed on building envelopes are evolving. Today, a façade must do far more than simply enclose a building. It must combine a wide range of requirements, from architectural design and environmental performance to user comfort and functionality.
Movement opens up additional possibilities. Façade elements can respond dynamically to changing conditions, improve building performance, or enable entirely new spatial experiences for occupants.
But conventional façade engineering alone is no longer sufficient for this. We need to consider mechanics, drives, sensors and controls from the very beginning. We see this as an important next step in the evolution of adaptive building envelopes.
How do you approach such a complex topic?
We combine our expertise in façade construction with automation and control technology. For dynamic building envelopes, a traditional sequential approach is no longer sufficient. The respective specialists must work collaboratively from the outset to develop an integrated solution. When these worlds come together, solutions can emerge that would scarcely be possible with a conventional, sequential planning process. Today, innovation arises at the intersection of disciplines.
What is the central idea behind kinetIQ?
Movable building components function much like a living organism: the control system is the brain, the drive trains are the nervous system, and the motors execute the movement. The key lies in ensuring that all components work together seamlessly and with precision. That is exactly what kinetIQ stands for: we integrate the individual disciplines into an intelligent, high-performance overall system.
Where do you see particularly interesting applications?
Anywhere architecture is closely linked to user experience and the quality of a space. Consider a private residence where large-format glazing can open completely, seamlessly connecting the living space with the surrounding landscape. Or hospitality and retail façades: a façade can open up, create a sense of arrival, or completely transform a space depending on its intended use. A building is normally a static framework. With kinetIQ, the design becomes a choreography.
How does this change collaboration with architects?
We enter into an intensive dialogue much earlier, so that movement is embedded not as a technical detail, but as an integral part of the architectural concept. Movement requires space: for example, a façade may slide into a wall cavity or open upwards and downwards. Early collaboration helps define how the desired design elements and the necessary technology can be integrated into the architecture in an intelligent and unobtrusive manner.
What specifically changes in the development of a movable façade?
The interfaces become significantly more complex. As soon as a façade element weighing several tonnes is set in motion, the structure, mechanics, drive, controls, safety systems and building automation must work together. At the same time, the conventional performance requirements for the building envelope remain unchanged – for example, in terms of air and watertightness and structural performance.
That is why we deliberately speak of a system. You cannot develop the drive system in isolation from the façade, vice versa. The specialists need to develop a shared understanding of the task and take joint responsibility for the final outcome.
Does a more technologically capable façade inevitably mean greater complexity?
From a technical perspective, often yes. For the user, however, that complexity should be as unnoticeable as possible. For us, that is an important hallmark of quality. Behind a seemingly simple movement there may be a highly complex interplay of mechanics, drive systems, controls and safety technology. Yet the user experience should feel effortless and intuitive, with the system itself receding into the background. The experience takes centre stage. Much like in a theatre production, the technology works behind the scenes, making extraordinary moments possible without drawing attention to itself.
Kinematic façades are nothing new. So what makes this the next technological step?
That’s true. Movement within the building envelope has existed for a long time, and seele has extensive experience in this field. One example is Apple Park, where, in collaboration with Foster + Partners, we installed two glass doors measuring 16 × 28 meters and weighing 180 metric tons each, which have been operating reliably since 2017. The next step goes beyond simply enabling movement. Our goal is to use movement strategically to enhance the performance of the building envelope. The position of the sun, wind and temperatures are constantly changing. An intelligently controlled façade can respond to these environmental factors in real time, optimising solar shading, ventilation, opening configurations and user comfort. To achieve this, we are increasingly integrating façades with sensors and building controls. Looking ahead, this also opens up new possibilities for AI-driven control.
