‘Escale Numérique’ (Digital Break) by Mathieu Lehanneur for JCDecaux
JCDecaux and Mathieu Lehanneur won the call for projects by the Mairie de Paris devoted to intelligent furniture with Escale Numérique, a connected haven of peace available to everyone. Set up on the Rond Point des Champs-Elysées.
Escale Numérique is a revival of the underground fiber optic network which is now supplying the capital, ‘Like the Wallace fountains, which since the end of the 19th century have offered Parisian the free drinking water which was circulating beneath their feet, Escale Numérique allows everyone to benefit, like a real public service, from a high-speed WIFI connection by raising it from beneath the ground.’
Investment corporation Sophia Sp. z.o.o and MVRDV present the Baltyk Tower, to be realised in the Polish city of Poznań. The office tower with a total surface of 25.000 m² will be located at Rondo Kaponiera at the Eastern entrance to the historic city and will feature retail and a panorama restaurant with a proposed one room hotel. Completion is scheduled for 2014.
For the first time in history, an airplane has succeeded in flying night and day without any fuel, powered for 26 hours by nothing but solar energy. This flight, on 8 July 2010, brought the initial phase of the Solar Impulse adventure launched by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg to a successful conclusion, validating their goal of demonstrating the enormous potential of new technologies for saving energy and applying renewable forms of energy.
In its quest for the ultimate in technological performance and symbolic force, Solar Impulse has set out on the precarious and risk-strewn path trodden by all pioneers. Since 2003, a team of creative mechanical and electrical engineers, physicists, IT experts, and composite material specialists have applied all their skills to build this revolutionary aircraft, capable of coming close to perpetual flight.
The Pearl’s unique shape is wonderfully adapted to the sun’s daily and year round course. Its large bay windows passively utilize the Sun’s heat in the winter, while being completely protected by its adapted roof during warmer summer days, therefore keeping the home’s interior naturally cooler.
This feature coupled with inclinable solar paneled also provides maximized solar energy gains and additional shade when necessary.
PlanetSolar is the largest solar boat in the world. The 537 m2 of solar panels supply 6 blocks of lithium-ion batteries ; a technology that provides power and energy density for an autonomy never achieved before. Indeed, each sunrise supplies the catamaran with the needed energy to continue its route…
The designer of PlanetSolar, Craig Loomes from New Zealand, has already developed many innovative ships throughout the world. Several months of research have determined the dimensions and the design of this great ship according to the chosen route. The engineers had to find and optimize solutions for converting and storing energy as well as for the aerodynamics, the propulsion of the boat and the choice of materials. The incredibly lightweight carbon structure of this futuristic vessel is extremely durable.
Dave deBruyn Principal InHaus Development Ltd. – www.inhaus.ca
True efficiency & sustainability begins with thoughtful design. A sustainable approach to development goes beyond the physical structure, materials and systems of the home. It encompasses all aspects of the future owner’s life and strives to improve the efficiency of how they lead their day to day lives. True sustainability is predictive, adaptive, and ever evolving. It revolves around the principles of quality, planning, material selection, durability, energy efficiency and construction methodology.
