A new semiactive independently variable damper, SAIVD, is developed and shown to be effective in achieving response reductions in smart base isolated buildings in near fault earthquakes. The semiactive device consists of four linear visco-elastic elements, commonly known as Kelvin–Voigt elements, arranged in a rhombus configuration. The magnitude of force in the semiactive device can be adjusted smoothly in real-time by varying the angle of the visco-elastic elements of the device or the aspect ratio of the rhombus configuration. Such a device is essentially linear, simple to construct, and does not present the difficulties commonly associated with modelling and analysing nonlinear devices (e.g. friction devices). The smooth semiactive force variation eliminates the disadvantages associated with rapid switching devices. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed analytical model of the device. A H∞ control algorithm is implemented in order to reduce the response of base isolated buildings with variable damping semiactive control systems in near fault earthquakes. The central idea of the control algorithm is to design a H∞ controller for the structural system that serves as an aid in the determination of the optimum control force in the semiactive device. The relative performance of the SAIVD device is compared to a variable friction device, recently developed by the authors in a separate study, and several key aspects of performance are discussed regarding the use of the two devices for reducing the responses of smart base isolated buildings in near fault earthquakes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.