‘power purse’ by solarjo, 2005 is a bag which has photovoltaic cells which can recharge small devices such as a mobile phone or mp3 player image © designboom

while in saint-etienne, designboom visited the musée d’art et industrie where ‘so watt!’ is being shown. the exhibition explores ideas which deal with today’s energy issues. there are a range of projects on display, from architectural models to personal energy saving devices. the objects take a look at the production of energy and different approaches of contributing to a more environmentally friendly society.

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 2 ‘H-racer’ miniature car with horizon fuel cells, 2006 image © designboom

the ‘H-racer’ functions on hydrogen and is manufactured from water using a micro production station powered by solar panels. the car’s hydrogen conversion into electricity is done without combustion engines and emit only pure water. it is a miniature version of what is being developed by some major automobile manufacturers. this toy was designed to help raise funds for the research and development and the promotion of this type of technology.

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 3 ‘radio FR250’ and ‘radio FR350’ by eton corp, 2007 image © designboom

these radios produce their own energy through a hand crank. the ‘FR350’ is completely watertight and the ‘FR250’ includes a lighting device and mobile phone charger. eton manufactures these radios for the general public with special consideration for use by the american red cross.

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 4 a view of some of the energy saving models which were on display image © designboom

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 5 inside an alcove where there was an installation made from electrical cords designed by gaëlle gabillet image © designboom

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 6 electrical cords are constructed in such a way to create bulbs of light which were bound to make a larger web by gaëlle gabillet image © designboom

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 7 a detail of one of the woven light covers by gaëlle gabillet image © designboom

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 8 suspended ‘flower lamp’ by göran nordahl from ‘front’, 2005 image © designboom

with the ‘flower lamp’, it is not only the light which evokes energy but the actual light form itself. the light’s ‘petals’ open and change when the energy consumption in the house is low. the flower lamp encourages energy saving behaviour as it only reacts when users are behaving in a positive way towards the environment.

saint etienne biennale 08: environmentally friendly energy (part 1) - 9 a display of vintage electricity and hydro advertisements, from the musée EDF electropolis-mulhouse collection image © designboom

french designer gaëlle gabillet was responsible for the scenography of the exhibition.

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saint-étienne international design biennale: http://biennalesaint-etienne.citedudesign.com cité du design: http://www.citedudesign.com