rethinking design - Spatial Design@Massey

ethinking designBUTTERFLYWith the research into creating new solar panels, implementing the design and style of thebutterfly will prove for some beautiful aesthetics. This Butterfly design takes intoconsideration the butterflyʼs ability to absorb sun more effectively, and also its relationshipbetween its wings and the wind.The design consists of a landscape of flags, attached to large 3-4m poles. The flags will bedesigned from laminated plastic solar panels allowing it to move in the wind, using the SMITGrow technique for its flexibility and ability to be recycled and reused. During the day thepanels will absorb solar energy through the very thin panels laminated into the plastic.However the design also implements the use of wind or kinetic energy. As the flags pullagainst the poles with the wind this movement will also store energy, so on a day when thereis less sun and more wind, there is still a large amount of energy being generated.As a very simple design, this could be implemented in many other ways, by reusing theplastic surface as a billboard or advertising space, they could be used within urban areas bycompanies as a way of both advertising and generating electricity. Designs could be placedupon street lights etc and the great idea would be that when the advert needs to be replaced,the plastic can be recycled and reprinted for the next advert.In Wellington this design could be seen as a productive wind sculpture set along thewaterfront. The energy produced from the flags could then be used to power the lighting inpublic areas at night around the cities waterfront. As stated earlier nature has multiple waysof producing energy, with each tree generating their own, not relying on their neighbours.The Butterfly flags work in the same way; they can be placed where energy generation isneeded, such as public walkways and accesses.