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Apertua™
Structure
Flexible Fins, Stationary Ring, Outer Ring, Gears, Arms, Motors
Material
Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Polymer
Standard Dimension
300mm, 600mm, Customisable
Standard Thickness
Customisable
Mode of Operation
Manual or Servo Motor
Mechanism
Aperture
Control Angles
128 degrees
Mounting Mechanism
Wall Screws and Anchors
Designer
Darius Loh
Apertua™ was inspired by the aperture mechanism found in camera lenses. The aperture can be operated in two different ways, either manually or powered by an Arduino Uno micro-controller board. We made a lever which allows the 22 arms to rotate the flexible aluminium blades to open the aperture.
The aluminium blades are made by etching. The design of the blades were generated using a 3D-modelling software to ensure smooth movement as they pan and slide across one another when the outer gear is rotated.
Download Specification Sheet PDF
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AntiCAD is a product design company founded in 2017 and is currently headquartered in Singapore. The name AntiCAD is an antithesis to traditional CAD (Computer Aided Design). Parametric design is a process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that define the relationship between design intent and response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apertua™ is a kinetic architectural product inspired by the aperture mechanism of a camera lens. It uses flexible aluminium fins, rings, gears and arms to create a movable aperture that can be operated manually or with a servo motor, similar to how a camera adjusts light and focus through its iris.
The structure of Apertua™ includes aluminium, stainless steel and polymer components. The aluminium fins are precision etched, and the mechanism uses 22 articulated arms controlled by a lever or micro-controller system such as an Arduino Uno to achieve smooth movement.
Apertua™ can be operated in two ways: manually via a lever, or powered using a servo motor controlled by an Arduino micro-controller. The aperture mechanism allows motion up to 128 degrees, enabling dynamic control of the opening similar to a camera iris.
Apertua™ exemplifies parametric design by using algorithmically derived geometries and mechanical logic that would be difficult to conceive with traditional CAD alone. Tools like Rhino 3D models and Grasshopper Rhino workflows are often used to generate, simulate and refine such parametric systems in architectural projects.
Apertua™ can be deployed as a dynamic facade element, kinetic sculpture or performance-oriented feature in both commercial and public spaces. Its kinetic and parametric design in architecture creates visual dynamism, improves environmental interaction (like light modulation), and demonstrates a fusion of art with engineered functionality.