city energy: sun brellas by ilaria mazzoleni from usa
designer's own words:
The project takes a biomimetic approach as it looks at nature as the source of inspiration. Animals have the extraordinary ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions integrating themselves to the environment and using the natural available resources at their best without harming the surroundings.
Studying the Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica japonica) provides inspiration at many levels. It is fascinating how they this species relate and adapt to diverse environmental and climatic conditions, finding strategies to survive that are at times physiological and at times behavioral. This work began with specific studies about thermo-regulation strategies that are developed and used by swallow in the most diverse habitats and developed into the design of a project that mimics energy adaptation qualities.
Similarly to the swallow that efficiently feeds itself with high energy insects in order to migrate long distances, the “sun brellas” allow to recharge cell phones, MP3 and cameras on the go. The association of protection plus energy production fits the needs of our contemporary independent and on-the-go “portable” lifestyle. Using micro PV Cells the “brellas” panels emulates photosynthesis, by transforming the sun’s energy into electricity, which is then stored in the infrastructured post. The brellas are lightweight technological objects which enrich the urban scape providing strong visual edge. As city energy rack cluster the brellas will offer a shaded protective hub and meeting point and at night will provide street and public space lights.
The project takes a biomimetic approach as it looks at nature (Red-rumped Swallow) as the source of inspiration for the design of the
The sun-brellas harvest the energy from the sun and transform it in usable energy for the urban people.
The urban lanscape is enriched by these