Why Design Now? An Energized MetaboliCity Is One Answer!

On May 14, 2010, the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City opened its fourth National Design Triennial exhibit... Why Design Now?  The exhibit includes some of the world's finest examples of why, indeed, we design.  Grouped into various themes, the exhibit features the original works of designers in many fields. MetaboliCity, a biomimetic design, is one of the energy designs exhibited that gives you an inspiring response to the question Why Design Now...

MetaboliCity by Rachel Wingfield & Mathias Gmachl of Loop.pH: via Cooper Hewitt.org

 MetaboliCity by Rachel Wingfield & Mathias Gmachl of Loop.pH: via CooperHewitt.org

MetaboliCity by Rachel Wingfield & Mathias Gmachl of Loop.pH: via Cooper Hewitt.org

Nothing short of dazzling in its design, function, and use of biomimetic architecture, MetaboliCity is a British design for an urban ecosystem that supports modular farming. The lightweight molecular woven-fiberglass scaffold is dotted with dye-sensitized solar cells made from the dye of berries at the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy in Denmark. These cells soak up sun all day and their energy is used to power the sprinkler system in the evening!

InventorSpot has covered several other designs recognized in the 2010 National Design Trienniel: Why Design Now exhibit... Just click on the photo of your choice to reach them....

 Sunshade     Solé Power Tiles      Energy Aware Clock 

Power Aware Cord    bioWAVE Energy System

That's Why Design Now!  The National Design Triennial Why Design Now exhibit will be on display until January 9, 2011 at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City.