BOOK REVIEW

摘要

The front cover of Kinetic Architecture: Designs for Active Envelopes is intriguing. Is the image part of an alien spacecraft, an insect carapace or giant origami? Actually, it is a close-up of a sophisticated shading system for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters by Aedas. The cover, like most other images in the book, is striking. Apparently, inspiration for the shading system was drawn from traditional shading screens, called mashrabiyas. These mashrabiyas open and close independently to minimise solar heat gain as the sun moves across the building. In summer, Abu Dhabi is beyond hot with temperatures of 45℃; in winter they drop to 12℃.