Next Generation Design Competition at the ICFF 2007 in NYC Piezoelectricity was a common theme throughout ICFF conference. The 2007 (ICFF) International Contemporary Furniture Fair sponsored a Next Generation Design Competition.
While at the ICFF Design Fair I was able to see a few of the presentations for the Next Generation Design Competition. The winner was the project: Lunar Resonant Street Lamps. I was able to see two of the 14 runner ups in the competition.
The winner, Lunar Resonant Street Lamps can be reviewed at their web site:
www.civiltwilightcollective.com. Lunar-resonant Streetlights sense and respond to ambient moonlight, dimming and brightening each month as the moon cycles through its phases. They offer energy savings of up to 90% over convential fixtures, while intensifying the urban experience of one of the most fundamental and beautiful cycles of nature.A little history. Earlier in this century there were similar attempts at lunar lighting. One was something called “moon towers”. In the 1930’s the US started to use lighting applying the electric grid we have today.A few characteristics of the Resonant Street Lamps:
There is Sensors on top- lights on and off so lights are more sensitive and come on with come on with ambient moonlight. There are LED “conversion kits”.
Now there is sunlight power but combined with lunar.
Lights facing down instead of up, a combination of Astronomy and architecture.
Foillowing are a few of the runner up presentations I listened to.
www.Carpetrecovery.org. Make Rugs from Excess form manufacturers.Recycled wood, carpet, PBC.
(Manhattan Furniture Design)
Alberto Villarreal: BrightWalk, a shoe that incorporates piezo-electric transducers and electroluminescent polymers to generate light while the user is walking or running. Bright Walk. Sneakers are designed using priezo electric trandsducers. Prieze-electric (described below) was a common theme throughout ICFF. Electroluminecent polymer. “Human Power devices”.
(Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials (notably crystals and certain ceramics) to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress. If the material is not short-circuited, the applied charge induces a voltage across the material.)
Elizabeth Redmond: PowerLeap, a piezoelectric urban flooring system. Power Leap. Sitting 100 watts.
Plezo- electrocity. Polar charge. Glass over concrete. Distribute to local grid. Sidewalk areas that would light as pedestrian walked on them.
Michael Silver: Composite Space, Sustainable Building Applications for Computer Automated Fiber Placement Technology. Example was building of a plane as if widdled out of one piece of material. S-glass has incredible strength. This was very interesting.
Following are the other 11 runner ups.
The 14 Next Generation® runners-up, listed with their entries below, will also be featured with more detailed information in Metropolis issues throughout the year:
Reamon Yu: iSave, an LED display for faucets and showers to make users aware of their water usage, and make them more inclined to save water.
Joseph Cory & Eyal Malka: The i-rise: Vertical Dwelling State of Mind; a vertical, multi-story residential unit, with an integrated infrastructure for generating renewable energy, collecting rainwater and treating liquid and solid waste based on zero-environmental impact technologies.
Michael Kirchmann, Mark Igou, and Team SOM: Jewels of Nizam, an elegant metal screen façade for buildings screens rooms from sunlight and is informed by the local culture.
Boris Von Bormann & Nik Hafermaas UberSee: PowerSEED, an artistic sustainable light installation.
(Manhattan Furniture Design)
Andre Dettler: Startup Kitchen, a freestanding kitchen unit that can recycle resources and invites group participation. Energy and waste are recycled.
David Slocombe & Adrian Ashley: Loco-plug & Loco Outlet, Loco for low consumption, saves energy by opening the circuit while electric devices are on standby.
Eric Olsen: Electro-Conductive Gypsum Wallboard, a new building product that pairs flat-wire technology with fire resistant gypsum core.
Jerad Tinnin: Luminet, an LED desk light with an interesting package lifecycle.
Martina Decker: SmartScreen, a thermo-responsive screen made of shape-memory polymers that open and close regulating heat transfer into a building.
Dawn Danby, Jyoti Stephens, Mary Rick, Bainbridge Graduate Institute: Beeline, a virtual marketplace for local food distribution.
Doug Hecker & Martha Skinner: Super Absorber, a new kind of highway wall barrier system using photocatalitic cement performs the traditional roles of reducing sound & light pollution but also absorbs airborne pollutants.
