A kinetic welcome at Circa Theatre

Kaynemaile’s kinetic artwork at the entrance to the revamped Circa Theatre on the famously windy Wellington waterfront merges architecture and landscape with theatrical performance.

Seated alongside New Zealand’s national museum, the theatre had previously lacked a human connection to Wellington’s waterfront.

Having seen our successful kinetic installation at the Dubai World Expo, Circa Theatre’s advocate Dame Caroline Henwood and Seb Bernhardt of Inside Design commissioned Kaynemaile to design an entrance piece that celebrated creative culture and live theatre and maximised the high-profile location.

Finding inspiration from classical amphitheatres and velaria-style sun canopies, designer Kayne Horsham set about to connect the theatre’s entrance to the ever-changing elements of the sky and harbour of Te Whanganui-a-Tara through colour and movement.

The kinetic installation features continuous drapes of Kaynemaile architectural mesh that effortlessly move with the wind without transferring excessive loads to the structure. This means the supporting structure and fixing system is much finer in scale than those used for traditional rigid panels or tensile fabric structures.

The colours of the mesh were developed after many hours spent observing the environment on site and shift through translucent blue to aqua green customised tints. During the day the installation provides shading to café patrons seated underneath at the newly opened Chouchou restaurant. In the evening the installation changes colour through lighting, connecting with public events held on the waterfront.

Our expertise in the design and delivery of kinetic art installations around the world combined with the unique attributes of Kaynemaile architectural mesh make us the ideal partner for civic artwork. From full concept through to collaboration and co-design with artists, think Kaynemaile.

Reflecting on the success of the project, designer Kayne Horsham noted the pressure of the iconic site:

“It’s not often you get a project with so many strong elements. It’s right at the water’s edge with constant high winds and surrounded by static, hard architecture. We knew if we got this right we could add something to soften and enrich Wellington’s waterfront experience.”

Energised by wind, Kaynemaile’s installation embraces the oceanside location and provides a spectacular kinetic welcome to this waterfront venue.