ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Dordrecht Energy Carousel in Dordrecht, Netherlands by Ecosistema UrbanoFebruary 21st, 2013 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Ecosistema Urbano The Centre for Visual Arts in Dordrecht In cooperation with the Amsterdam design bureau Carve invited 10 european design firms to develop inventive, resourceful and multi-age friendly playful objects to complete the design for the new public space, the Governeursplein square in the city of Dordrecht. EcosistemaUrbano’s “energy carousel” was one of the winning proposals chosen to be implemented.
A chandelier of hanging ropes…. …a shelter… As a forest of revolving rope swings that hang at different lengths, the hanging rope seats towards the center of the structure accommodate smaller, younger children, while taller, older children may grab onto the shorter ropes on the outside. The kinetic energy that is released by the children’s hanging and turning on the ropes is captured via carousel structure and stored in a battery underneath the play site. When the park begins to lose light, the carousel’s battery supplies energy to light up the structure. When the speed of play increases, the lamps will light up brighter. The color of the lights also changes according to how much energy has been generated by the children on any particular day. EcosistemaUrbano has designed this play structure with two particular focuses in mind. The first is to promote education through play. We believe that teaching children about alternative methods for generating electrical power with their own physical experiences, sends a subtle message about the potential for creative and a more sustainable approach to urbanism. Second, was to use efficient materials that also serve to highlight the project’s unique design. The LED lights use a minimal amount of energy. The structure, unlike most play structures, uses a limited amount of steel – Its body is instead a tensegrity structure formed with ropes and textiles. The textile roof fabric protects children against rain and bright sunlight, and boasts a swirl pattern to accent the movement-to-energy potential of the structure. Contact Ecosistema Urbano
Tags: Dordrecht, Netherlands Category: Art Center |