One Ocean is a building created for the needs of Expo 2012. Its unusual kinetic facade attracts hundreds of tourists to this day. The main theme of the Expo was The Living Ocean and Coast. Indeed, the building looks alive.
The shape of the building is associated with giant anemones protruding above the surface of the water. The One Ocean pavilion has a movable façade. There are many such buildings, but this Korean is unique. The façade undulates, which gives the impression that the building is flowing. The Kinetic facade of One Ocean is 140 m long and 13 m high. Its surface consists of 108 movable panels, called by the architects biological term – fins.
The panels are made of polymers reinforced with fiberglass – thanks to this, they are light, stiff and flexible. The ends of the panels, through screw spindles, are connected to mechanisms hidden under the facade. Each panel is controlled individually by a computer system. Architects describe their implementation as biomimeticism. Biomimeticism is a new form of architecture in which biological processes are the inspiration.
