SP architecture workshop
We propose a new bus stop canopy based on smart and sustainability principles.
An innovative and multidisciplinary design to involve people in an interactive experience while waiting.
It does not act only as shelter but it promotes:
- A sustainable design to support the issue related to the plastic pollution of the sea.
- A location where smart technology offers useful and entertaining uses.
- A pilot project to inspire and foster a wave for change.
- An iconic urban furniture design to enrich people’s experience.
The various concepts are expressed through a unique design in recycled plastic with a visual reference to the ocean waves. We promote a sustainable approach to the plastic pollution of the oceans, which is currently a social and political key issue in Termoli. The design proposal aims to neutralise C02 emissions and to promote the Circular Economy by involving local companies and craftsmanship.
The waves is a smart and technologically advanced design that aims to use renewable energy to offer people an interactive experience, turning the wait into an active and inspiring moment. An elegant and interactive touch screen will be integrated into one of the canopy modules and it will be supplied by photovoltaic panels which are located above the canopy. The proposed recycled plastic is HDPE – high density polyethylene – which is one of the most common types of plastic found in the sea. HDPE has a high strength-to-density ratio, it is a versatile and easy to shape polymer, very resistant and non toxic.
The material has very interesting mechanical properties, as it is very resistant to high temperatures, UV exposure and commonly used solvents. Its extremely robust and easy to maintain properties makes HDPE the most suitable material for the proposed application. The colour is integrated to the material itself and it varies its tones, conferring a unique character to each canopy. The material’s texture is enriched with tiny speckles of other colours that vary from a product to another, which express the recycling process of plastic.
The aim is to emphasize the perception of the recycling process, tell its story and raise awareness and inform people. The proposed design seeks to express the potentials of recycled plastic as a construction material. The curved geometry of each module has been based on a strong relationship between form and structure to allow the material’s configuration to become structurally efficient, maximising its capacity. The use of recycled plastic will be combined with recycled steel to locally reinforce the structure and to create the connection to the ground. We propose a modular and prefabricated object to improve its quality, reduce the price of construction and facilitate the assembly process. The proposed concept is not limited to a single solution but it can be adapted to suit different uses and configurations to respond to the urban needs. It is a pilot project to promote a wave for change using the potentials of a problem to solve another.
Authors: SP architecture workshop.
Website: www.schinaprimavera.com
Location: Termoli, Italy.
Year: 2021
Competition: Prize Termoli.