Panasonic - Fuorisalone 2013 Energetic Energies
“Interest in natural energy power generation, especially in the immediacy of solar power, is rising worldwide, changing the face of our cities and nearly every aspect of our lives. Should we not choose power generation devices not just by their efficiency, but on how intimately they will integrate with diverse urban contexts, thus giving shape to our lives tomorrow? We envision the city of tomorrow fully utilizing natural energy, an invigorating habitat truly engaged with its natural environs. What if a city is a hill covered with solar panels like foliage, alive with twittering birds and gentle breezes? Here we present a new look at an energy park of the future with miniature panels.”
Akihisa Hirata
Environmental protection and the idea of a new dialogue between nature and the city are central themes in the work of the versatile young Japanese architect Akihisa Hirata. This is his introduction to Energetic Energies, the installation that Panasonic will present at the upcoming Salone del Mobile. Faced with environmental issues and the belief that nature and human society are irreconcilable opposites, Panasonic offers an alternative viewpoint as part of the Hybrid Architecture & Design exhibition at the University of Milan, a vision that considers our cities an integral part of the planet and the universe. Akihisa Hirata’s work, installed beneath the Largo Richini Portico at the university, is a poetic and conceptual transposition of a new vision, in which people and spaces coalesce to produce something integral and sustainable: an enchanted city where the roofs of the buildings and houses are covered in miniature solar panels, which, like climbing ivy, merge seamlessly with nature.
This visionary project revives a sense of wonder and tackles pressing topics such as the reduction of our environmental footprint, the survival of the planet and the constant search for ways to improve our lifestyle. By juxtaposing environmentalism and romanticism, the architect aimed to illustrate Panasonic’s objective; for years the company has focused its research and technological development on sustainability and on a system based on the creation, storage and saving energy. This innovative set-up can be applied not only to houses, offices and shops, but also to entire cities, with the aim of creating a ‘sustainable smart town’. The company wants to demonstrate a new energy landscape, where energy creation (through solar panels), energy storage (through storage batteries), energy saving (through LED lights), and energy management take a new form in a city environment. Precisely in the light of this desirable scenario, Hirata imagines innovative solar panels, no longer with a fixed structure but mobile and flexible, inspired for example by the pattern of foliage and based on hybrid systems that can bring environment and technology together. The city of the future - according to the Energetic Energies concept - features solar panels scattered over buildings like plants, creating a landscape of hills. Projected shadows of clouds pass slowly over these “hills”, as if moving atop the landscape, encouraging city residents to regain their relationship with the forgotten sky.
This is a model that sits perfectly with the green revolution that Panasonic has led for years, but which also has a hint of something more profound, a reflection on our existence and a philosophical vision that promotes the concept of common well-being, instilled with a dynamic, vital force, where a superior, systematic civilisation can benefit from spaces inspired by natural principles.
PRODUCTS
Bifacial photovoltaic module “HIT Double” HIT* Double solar modules can capture sunlight and generate electricity from both sides of the module, allowing a greater amount of energy to be generated, compared to single sided HIT solar modules. (on sale since August 2012 in Japan) *”HIT” is a registered trademark and an original technology of Panasonic Group.
Lithium-ion Battery System The lithium-ion battery system consists of the Panasonic battery modules with nominal capacity of 1.35kWh and a battery management system designed to control charge and discharge of the battery in accordance with customer needs. (on sale in Europe since June 2012)
Smart Home Energy Management System Smart Home Energy Management System is a system which visualizes energy consumption, manages energy consumption by networking appliances, and conserves energy for the future. (on sale in Japan Since October 2012)
LED Lamp Clear Type The LED Lamp Clear Type offers the same shiny light as a 60W clear incandescent lamp with a long life of approximately 25,000 hours.(20W and 40W versions, which have won a number of awards, are also available) (20W, 40W Clear Type have been on sale in Europe and Asia, 60W Clear Type will be on sale soon in Europe.)
MILANO MODEL 01 A unique chandelier design that uses felt material. Goes well with various sofas and furniture creating a cozy living room atmosphere. A living room’s centerpiece is now bigger than ever before. The color tunable light from the reflector plate evokes the sense of a stained glass. (Prototype, market sales undecided)
MILANO MODEL 02 A chandelier which uses new material and a chandelier which tells a fantastic story of light. The light passing through the luminaire recalls images of sunbeams piercing through a cloudy sky. The luminaire’s appearance changes like a sunrise and sunset sky with color tuning. (Prototype, market sales undecided)
MILANO MODEL 03 A luminaire that’s shape can be adjusted to form various styles. With our unique frameless LED light panel, this luminaire image mixes dynamics with weightlessness. Not only the shape but also the luminaire’s light effect will change by adjusting how the luminaire folds, allowing the user to customize their living space. (Prototype, market sales undecided)
MILANO MODEL 04 Unlike traditional luminaires which are composed of a body, neck and lamp sockets; this luminaire is composed only of light sources & clear like the delicate and lucid light of a kaleidoscope panels. The light shines through the rhythmically arranged geometrical designed panels like the delicate and lucid light of a kaleidoscope. By utilizing the advantages of the LED light panel such as slimness, lightness, frameless beauty & reduced glare; we were able to realize this floating design. (Prototype, market sales undecided)
