 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Student Designer
University Product Description and Principal Function(s) Sprout is designed to provide a supplementary source of vegetables to remote communities utilizing aeroponic technology. The enclosure of the device is constructed using twin-wall polycarbonate with an innovative joint system that minimizes construction time, cost and complexity.Sprout is lightweight, affordable and efficient by design; by harnessing the architectural and physical advantages of a geodesic dome structure. The product can easily be adapted in many ways to suit the requirements of the user; with individualizations such as colour, texture, finishes and output capacity. Why does the product represent design excellence and why do you believe it deserves an Australian Design Award? Although areoponics and geodesics are in existance, the two has never been combined to create such a product that is aimed for such a purpose.Sprout aims to improve the poor diet and nutrition of the indigenous population in Australia by providing a healthy and affordable source of vegetables. The operation of the device is simple and intuitive, and it also reflects back to the traditional ways of foraging for the indigenous population. The enclosure of Sprout is constructed from twin wall polycarbonate, which will insulate the interior of the dome from the outside heat. The dome is assembled with an innovative joint system that eliminates the need for a rigid internal structure; in turn, this eliminates the need for complex multi-point joints to be manufacured, thus reducing manufacturing costs greatly. Through the use of this innovative 'edge joint', the domes can effectively be scaled to any size and frequency without the need to manufacture any extra parts, all that is required to change is the polycarbonate panel sizes and the length of the extruded joint. This allows the dome to be almost completely customised to the needs of the consumer. The dome structure is fixed to a concrete 'ring' that also holds a non-slip rubber flooring in place. In addition to the benefits previously mentioned, Sprout is also easily transportable from manufacturer to on-site, as all the pieces can be flat-packed and the dome structure weighs a mere 88kg. On this representation of Sprout, the device is mounted onto a wooden decking with a small seating area. When placed in the rural location, the device would be shared by 5-6 households. Sprout then becomes a gathering point for these people, it is a place where families can come and gather healthy food together, and spend time on the deck, socialising and sharing. Sprout represents health, and becomes the center of a community, a gathering place for families. The coloured lights on the decking are amber and red, and marks the edge perimeter of the deck, which improves safety, as well as improving the aesthetics of the device. The panels of the dome can be clear, frosted or opaque and in any colour desired. Sprout is designed to be usable in the rural communities, or it can easily be adapted to be used in an urban location. Structurally the dome is strong enough to withstand gale forced winds and children. The actual product, being some 6 metres in diameter, would have been too big to be presented, thus, a 1:18 scale model was produced to showcase the concept of the idea. |
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
© Copyright Standards Australia This site is part of the Standards Australia group Sitemap | Privacy Statement | Linking Policy |
|||||||||||||
