That’s where the appearance of e-QBO comes in. It might look pretty unusual, but it also looks right bloody cool, as well. Its designers have referred to it as an ‘architectural chameleon,’ holding that it can be transformed to fit a wide range of different programs and locations. From the looks of things, it also features a modular design; it was turned into an exhibition space showcasing the results of sustainability research at the Milan Innovation Cloud conference. It also played host to a lounge and info point for Research on Energy Systems at the MADE 2013 fair. In terms of more recent shows, the cube’s been selected to represent Italy at Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit. In order to give it a more pleasing (and less intimidating) appearance, the cube incorporates LED lighting, which allows it to engage dynamically with its surroundings. The energy accumulated within the device is stored in its batteries and used both for lighting the box and charging nearby electronic devices. Its creator refers to it as “a manifesto of future smart cities” in that it’s both autonomous and connected, off the power grid and “integrated into the urban context.” For my part, I could easily see a future where the sight of power cubes like this one becomes commonplace, with cubes of various shapes, sizes, and configurations dotting the city streets to provide simple, clean, renewable energy. And you know what? That future’s downright awesome – I can’t wait.
e-QBO | Gallery
