The 2010 edition of the Electrolux Design Lab
competition focuses on creative solutions for
compact living. The 2010 brief asked industrial
design students to consider how people will prepare
and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes in the
homes of 2050, when 74% of the global population
are predicted to live in an urban environment. Here
are eight concepts that provide a glimpse of the
future.
Eco Cleaner, Ahi Andy Mohsen, Iran – Portable,
Compact Dishwasher
The Eco Cleaner is a portable dishwasher and
composter that uses ultrasonic
waves to ionise food and turn it in to reusable
waste. Ahi Andy Mohsen’s
concept is designed for use within the increasing
numbers of single
households and specifically meeting dual
predictions: that future food will
be supplied in capsule form (thus reducing the
required size of vessels to
prepare and eat from); and that there will be
reduced time for household
chores. The Eco Cleaner is simultaneously green
and space efficient.
Bio Robot Refrigerator, Yuriy Dmitriev, Russia
–
Cool, Green, Food
Four times smaller than a conventional refrigerator,
the Bio Robot cools
biopolymer gel through luminescence. Rather than
shelves, the non sticky,
odourless gel morphs around products to create a
separate pod that suspends
items for easy access. Without doors, draws and a
motor 90% of the
appliance is solely given over to its intended
purpose. At the same time,
all food, drink and cooled products are readily
available, odours are
contained, and items are kept individually at their
optimal temperature by
bio robots. The fridge is adaptable – it can be hung
vertically,
horizontally, and even on the ceiling. Different
sizes and dimensions allow
it to perfectly fit the accordant dwelling.
The Kitchen Hideaway, Daniel Dobrogorsky,
Australia
The Kitchen Hideaway is a virtual reality concept
that allows the
inhabitants of a communal building to imagine
being in a kitchen, preparing
a particular meal rather than having to actually do
this for themselves.
The thoughts of the user are then transmitted to
robotic chefs within the
building who then prepare the visualised meal in a
real kitchen and with
real ingredients. In effect, the headset replaces the
need for kitchen
appliances in individual dwellings, saving space
through creative thinking.
Dismount Washer, Lichen Guo, China – Wash &
Go
Laundry
Lichen Guo identifies the conventional washing
machine as an unnecessary
occupier of space. The Dismount Washer addresses
this by combining the
cleaning vessel and laundry basket in one. The
dirty laundry capsule is
placed on a wall mountable motor (or ‘energy
stick’) which takes up very
little space. The energy stick also dispenses steam
to aid the cleansing
process.
External Refrigerator, Nicolas Hubert, France –
External Cooling
Two years in China provided the inspiration for
Nicolas Hubert’s external
refrigerator. Fixed directly on the outside wall of
residential buildings,
the concept is an elaboration on a way of life in
northern China where food
is kept on balconies in the winter to save space and
energy. During cold
seasons and at night, the low external
temperatures are used to provide the
right climate for items in the fridge. During warmer
weather, the sun is
used to transform light into energy through solar
panels. Nicolas reflects
Electrolux design values: the shape and finish are
kept pure and simple so
as to ensure easy integration with the external
urban environment, whilst a
range of colours and ambient lighting facilitate this
further still.
Clean Closet, Michael Edenius, Sweden – All in
One
Laundry Concept
The Clean Closet is essentially just that – a closet
that cleans clothing.
Textiles are scanned for impurities and cleaned
accordingly with molecular
technology that removes dirt and odours. The
concept replaces the laundry
basket, the washing machine, and drying cabinet to
save space and, as no
water is used in the process, is kinder to the
environment.
The Snail, Peter Alwin, India – Micro Induction
Heating
The Snail is a portable heating and cooking device
based on magnetic
induction processes. Such is the size and versatility
of the Snail, it can
be stuck directly on to a pot, a pan, a mug etc. to
heat the contents.This
reduces the amount of space required for
conventional cooking whilst adding
portability to the process. Powered by a high
density sugar crystal
battery, the Snail converts the energy from the
sugar, heating up a coil to
conduct the magnetic induction process to the
utensil. Integrated sensors
detect the food type being heated; automatically
adjusting the time and
temperature. A simple touch sensitive display with
interface helps to
monitor the process.
Elements Modular Kitchen, Matthew Gilbride,
USA –
All-In-One Kitchen
Mathew Gilbride’s modular, wall-mounted appliance
provides flexible modes
of cooking, refrigeration, air conditioning, lighting,
and environmental
design whilst reducing space. The appliance draws
power wirelessly through
technology applied to the wall, which is
supplemented through solar energy
as required. Multiple units and surfaces
automatically work together
through wireless smart networking, whilst
customisation is offered by being
able to install the units as the user prefers.
Electrolux Design Lab 2010: the finalists
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- Elena Sommariva
- 21 July 2010