Elefsina, Greece – A Greek design team has unveiled Aktina, a mobile power station where urban dwellers can meet and charge devices, in the bike-friendly city of Elefsina.
The project is a collaboration between CityIndex, an architecture and urban planning team founded in Athens, and Energize, a company that helps develop green energy in Greece. Six photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of the unit provide a sustainable power source for electric bicycles and digital devices, as well as a wifi hotspot.
The project presents mobile charging hubs for electric bicycles as part of a future vision of sustainable mobility. The idea is particularly relevant in Greece, where the troubled economy has made car ownership difficult for residents. Aktina also includes removable boxes that locals can use as seating for spontaneous social gatherings.
In the context of an uncertain future, designers are creating nomadic, autonomous structures, often with a mechanical, improvised aesthetic. For more, see our Survivability design direction.