Breathing Architecture: How HiveGround Helped Bring the True Sphere Kinetic Wall to Life
In the competitive world of luxury retail and premium co-working spaces, static design is often not enough. To truly captivate exclusive members, an environment needs to feel alive.
In 2016, True Corporation was preparing to launch its flagship "True Sphere" at The EmQuartier in Bangkok—an exclusive co-working and lifestyle space for their top-tier Black Card members. The ambition was high: create a futuristic sanctuary that embodied connectivity and innovation.
To achieve this, the renowned design firm Department of Architecture Co., Ltd. envisioned a space defined by flowing lines and dynamic elements. Their centerpiece concept was audacious: a massive, living wall that moved like a gentle wave.
Turning this architectural dream into a mechanical reality required specialized expertise. This is the success story of how HiveGround stepped in to engineer the movement behind the iconic True Sphere Kinetic Wall.
The Challenge: Making Architecture "Breathe"
Department of Architecture’s vision for the entryway was a "Kinetic Wall" comprised of 108 separate columns.
The challenge wasn't just hanging 108 columns; it was making them move in perfect, silent synchronization. They needed to ripple and flow to create a sense of calm, sophisticated technology—like a digital organism breathing. If the movement was jerky, loud, or poorly timed, the entire premium illusion of the space would be broken.
This required a complex marriage of structural engineering, precise mechanical design, and sophisticated software control systems.
The Solution: Precision Engineering by HiveGround
HiveGround was brought on board as the specialist engineering partner to realize Department of Architecture's design.
Our team was tasked with designing the "muscle and brain" of the installation. This involved developing the custom robotic mechanisms hidden in the ceiling that would individually control each of the 108 columns.
Key engineering successes included:
- Mechanical Design: Developing a robust pulley and motor system capable of lifting and lowering the columns smoothly over thousands of duty cycles without failure.
- Control Systems: Creating the software and hardware interface to synchronize 108 separate motors. We had to program fluid wave patterns that felt organic rather than mechanical.
- Integration: Working closely with the architects and contractors to ensure the mechanisms fit within the tight ceiling confines of the retail space at EmQuartier, remaining completely invisible to the customer.
The Result: A Flagship Experience
When True Sphere opened its doors at EmQuartier in 2016, it set a new standard for service design in Thailand.
The Kinetic Wall became the defining feature of the entrance. The slow, mesmerizing movement of the 108 columns set an immediate tone of sophistication and tranquility for entering guests. It successfully transformed a static lobby into a dynamic, memorable experience that perfectly matched the "future of connectivity" brand promise of True Sphere.
This project stands as a prime example of successful interdisciplinary collaboration. By combining the world-class design vision of Department of Architecture with the precision robotics expertise of HiveGround, we proved that complex technology can be integrated seamlessly into high-end interior environments.