Design competition that I did together with my collegue Marek Piano Kedzierski.
MAIN IDEA
The design is carried in popular spirit of bionics. Bionics examines living organisms and applies this knowledge to develop new technologies. My proposal is based on the usage of photosynthesis as a new source of energy.
Imagine that car will be completely self-sufficient thanks to energy that plants extract from sunlight and water. I was mainly focused on finding the appropriate location for the plants inside the vehicle. I tried to find the best combination between the technical and biological requirements together with aesthetic form.
PHILOSOPHY IN THE CITY
Because photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide, which is waste material of classic combustion engines, it would be convenient to place such vehicles like „greenhouse“ in middle-sized and large cities. „waste“ material of photosynthesis is pure oxygen which would actually clean air. Parked vehicles would serve as a small air purifier which, in addition,would make energy supply for itself for immediate use. Vehicles would be energy-self-sufficient and their activities would be beneficial also for the environment. This is the main point in my proposal which, I believe, will bring better future for mankind.
VEHICLE
The logic of a car is based on the traditional concept of a greenhouse. People are able to grow plant in its own microclimate thanks to greenhouses. One of the most important features of the greenhouse is its maximal transparency. Requirement of bringing the maximum amount of life-giving solar energy to the plants led to the construction where the whole upper part of the vehicle is mainly made of glass (or other form of transparent material).
From the formal point of view the plants themselves are very strong aesthetic element, and that is the reason why the body of the car is not dramatically shaped. Main focus is on balance between organic form of the body and its connection to the wheels, which are lightly touching the ground and bring the „living organism in motion“. The main impression of the body is its lightness. The vehicle seems like it saves the maximum generated energy while in motion. Therefore, there are used big thin wheels, as is the case with bicycles.
MANEUVERING OF THE VEHICLE
To achieve the aforementioned lightweight body there was needed to design a new system for maneuvering the vehicle. Rear part of the vehicle copies the layout of a circle. On this circle there are positioned wheels. Wheels are then rotated around the perimeter of a circle.
INTERIOR
Passengers are placed above the „green“. Seating which holds the passengers is made of transparent lamellas that are ergonomically shaped by the human body. Thanks to transparency of the lamellas the sunlight has free path to plants. Center control panel serves for controlling the vehicle and communicating the necessary information. To control the vehicle there is placed a joystick, as is the case in airplanes. I chose this solution mainly for its spatial modesty and furthermore because its location between the seats enabling to control the vehicle from both seats.
LIFE CYCLE OF PLANTS
Life begins with plants being planted in the co-called ovary. the ovary regulates the growth of the plants by its tubes and their openings so that the leafs together create the biggest possible area for a incident sunbeams.
This project ranked second in the allivictus international competition competing 650 registred designers.
