In 2007 China invested 12 billion US dollars in renewable energies (Germany invested $14 billion and the USA $10 billion) and in the same year 6.4% of the country’s total energy use came from wind power. China’s target for 2020 is to produce 15% of all its energy from renewable sources. With a market share of 23% China is the market leader in the production of solar photovoltaic cells.1
The Shanghai-based design agency Yang-Design responded to these development and designed a bus shelter for Ningbo South Business District integrating the latest solar technology.
The system is divided into three modular units which can be reduced or added to according to the size requirements of each shelter. The modular and robust design lowers maintenance requirements, which also saves costs and energy over time. Two fold-down benches provide some space for seating whilst leaving enough standing space for many others. Between the benches is a ‘city information center’, space for an advertisement billboard and a bus schedule screen. Solar voltaic panels are installed on top of the shelter and they provide the energy for lighting and the information system.
All the components speak the same simple design language. The user-friendly details are designed with soft and fluid curves. Its silver and dark grey color combination responds to the branding requirements of the business district.
The bus shelter is the winner of the prestigious 2010 Red Dot Design Award.
1 Matrix of Change, Matrix des Wandels, report by Zunkunftsinstitut GmbH, June 2009, pp 14