Hasta La Ideas

Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have claimed a “big breakthrough” in the development of a battery that can function structurally as well as a power source.

The load-bearing batteries are being developed with KTH Royal Institute of Technology for use in aircraft, vehicle and building design.

Structural batteries, which are also known as massless energy storage, aim to significantly reduce the weight of battery-powered vehicles or other objects by incorporating batteries into the structure of the object. By so doing, the need for separate batteries is reduced or potentially even eliminated.

This could result in significant efficiency gains. A lighter electric vehicle, for example, will require less energy to drive if all other things are equal.

Development “taken a real step forward”

In order to be viable, the batteries need to provide both power and structural integrity. According to Chalmers University of Technology, the latest prototype exceeds the energy storage, stiffness and strength of all its previous models.

“The first attempt to make a structural battery was made as early as 2007, but it has so far proven difficult to manufacture batteries with both good electrical and mechanical properties,” the university explained.

“But now the development has taken a real step forward, with researchers from Chalmers, in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, presenting a structural battery with properties that far exceed anything yet seen, in terms of electrical energy storage, stiffness and strength.”

Carbon fibre delivered breakthrough

According to the university, the breakthrough has been delivered through the use of carbon fibres as the battery’s negative electrode, which stores and releases the lithium ions that create electrical energy.

Ions flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode, which, in this battery model, is made from aluminium foil coated with lithium iron phosphate.

The electrodes are separated by a fibreglass fabric within an electrolyte matrix that helps with the movement of the ions.

Carbon fibre was chosen as it can function as both a store for chemical energy and a conductor, negating the need for other materials and reducing the overall weight of the battery. It is also extremely strong.

“Previous attempts to make structural batteries have resulted in cells with either good mechanical properties, or good electrical properties,” added Leif Asp, professor at Chalmers University of Technology.

“But here, using carbon fibre, we have succeeded in designing a structural battery with both competitive energy storage capacity and rigidity.”

Battery could replace common construction materials

The latest battery has an energy density of 24 watt-hours per kilogram, compared to 60-90 watt-hours per kilogram for conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Its stiffness is 25 gigapascals, compared with around 75 gigapascals for aluminium, which the university said means “the structural battery can really compete with many commonly used construction materials”.

A project to develop the battery to reach an energy density of 75 watt-hours per kilogram and stiffness of 75 gigapascals is now underway.

Funded by the Swedish National Space Agency, it is hoped to be achieved by replacing the aluminium foil of the positive electrode with more carbon fibre and thinning out the separator.

Model could be used in electric planes

“The next generation structural battery has fantastic potential,” said Asp.

“If you look at consumer technology, it could be quite possible within a few years to manufacture smartphones, laptops or electric bicycles that weigh half as much as today and are much more compact,” he explained.

“And in the longer term, it is absolutely conceivable that electric cars, electric planes and satellites will be designed with and powered by structural batteries.”

Swiss start-up Energy Vault recently developed an eco-friendly and cost-effective storage solution that relies on moving concrete bricks around. It has more longevity than batteries and more versatility than pumped hydroelectricity.

Elsewhere, IBM recently developed battery that’s free of cobalt, nickel and other heavy metals to help avoid the environmental issues associated with lithium-ion technology.

Photography is by Marcus Folino, courtesy of Chalmers University of Technology.

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From shopping for crystals to eating tacos, the Hawaiian capital is as vibrant as ever

Traveling these days is still somewhat complicated though more feasible, and wanderlust and curiosity are motivators to figure out how to journey with care. We recently visited Honolulu—a favorite US getaway because it’s is literally and figuratively so far away—and found mucho aloha persevering, even through the necessary layers of tension and protocol. Beyond the gorgeous spring weather, chill island vibes and grounding forces of nature, we realized a visit to Honolulu also satisfies our Japanophile urges given the neighboring island nation’s historic and ongoing influence on the city’s culture.

Surfing, swimming, hiking and aimlessly road-tripping around Oahu are all lovely things to do when visiting Honolulu and the options for each are endless. While we’re used to visiting Hawaii with a few key plans on the schedule and a lot of room for serendipity, we quickly learned that more structure is needed these days, as many venues and activities require reservations in order to manage and maintain COVID safety measures.

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club

Home base for our visit was the The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club. Perfectly located on the edge of Waikiki, the 100-room hotel is in walking distance from any place you’d want to go within the touristy neighborhood and at the same time far enough from the commotion that you can relax. Self-described as “laidback modern aloha,” the hotel is not only more affordable than many of the other Waikiki properties, it’s also more desirable. Their charm comes from a thoughtful aesthetic that eschews Hawaiian vibes creatively executed with simple materials. Rooms range in size and layout and all feature comfy beds with soft sheets and well-lit bathrooms with large showers. Rattan light fixtures incorporate used soda bottles and the prints and patterns throughout are a fresh take on familiar island style.

While free coffee is a morning amenity of the hotel, the lobby-side shop by Banks Journal features espresso drinks and cold brew alongside their clothes, books and mementos. The on-premises restaurant Mahina & Sun’s is situated poolside and serves up delicious island fare and tasty cocktails. Speaking of poolside, the entire property is situated around its pool which has “Wish You Were Here” painted on the bottom giving ample photo opportunities from the rooms that look down upon it.

Kapa Hale

Helmed by Honolulu-born Keaka Le—who has cooked at Gramercy Tavern, Untitled at The Whitney and most recently at Honolulu’s The Pig and The Lady—Kapa Hale is the chef/owner’s first restaurant of his own. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, the restaurant (which opened late last year) serves up dishes based on regional cuisine but blended with flavors from all around the world. Le named the restaurant after Kapa—a patterned fabric made by native Hawaiians—and says that his approach to food is similar: allowing many ingredients to weave together and tell a story. The restaurant is off the beaten path and when we visited had great local vibes to complement the creative and delectable dishes.  Reservations are available online for groups up to 10 people.

Morning Glass Coffee

Hawaiian coffee is definitely a thing, though finding an exceptional cup proved surprisingly hard. Some of the best coffee we found in Honolulu was at Morning Glass Coffee, thanks to their locally sourced beans. With two locations (on Manoa Rd, Honolulu and Waihee Rd, Kaneohe), the cafes are only open for take-out at the moment, but customers are able to order online ahead of time. Along with all the usual suspects, there’s Vietnamese iced coffee, plenty of matcha drinks and teas. There’s breakfast fare like scones and strata, while for lunch there are six sandwich options.

Thyda’s Tacos

Serving up incredibly tasty dishes from jackfruit tacos to lengua rice bowls and barbacoa quesadillas, the beloved Thyda’s Tacos truck is located across from Whole Foods on Queen St. Their fare is on par with the best of LA’s street tacos and options with an island twist are a welcomed nod to place. The perfect spot for a quick after-beach meal, the truck regularly sells out of various items, so we recommend arriving well before their 3PM-5PM closing time. Follow their Instagram for updates and specials.

Merriman’s

With an extensive wine list that includes sake, Merriman’s Honolulu (their fourth location) works with smaller scale wineries that focus on low-intervention practices. The all-day menu—featuring fresh-daily fish, Waipio Valley taro falafel and house-made kimchi—provides farm-to-table fare in a big restaurant that doesn’t compromise quality or experience. The focus on local produce and regional cuisine makes for food that’s fresh and high-quality. And the service is a perfect balance of fast-paced thoroughness and chill, warm vibes. Reservations can be made online for groups up to six; for larger parties they suggest calling the restaurant directly. 

Ginger13

Plants, crystals and home goods in a space so vibe-y you never want to leave, Ginger13 is just one of the many spots in Honolulu’s Chinatown worth visiting. Founded by Cindy Yokoyama, everything on offer here (from macrame coasters to essential oils) has been carefully selected with Hawaii as a muse. You can also count on Yokohama to share insights on other businesses in the neighborhood as it’s a tight knit community helping to revive this part of town.

Bar Leather Apron

After stocking up on goodies at Ginger13, walk seven minutes to Bar Leather Apron for a phenomenal cocktail in a bar that feels very Tokyo. Founded back in 2015 by Justin Park and Tom Park, the bar is tiny but buzzy. The inventive drink list features a farm-to-glass section (cocktails made using local ingredients), highballs, classics, contemporary favorites and signature drinks including an old fashioned made with umami-infused Japanese whisky. And if whisky is indeed your drink of choice, the bar has a remarkably extensive list of sippers. Their alcohol-free concoctions are new to the menu and present a delicious option for non-drinkers or an intermission between rounds. Currently open with even fewer seats and extra spacing, Leather Apron has reservations available online.

The Pig and The Lady

Another seven-minute walk away, Honolulu’s adored Vietnamese restaurant, The Pig and The Lady has been a firm favorite for a decade now. Open for dining in (reservations via their website) and take-out, this eatery is a family affair helmed by Andrew Le, his mother Loan Le and brother Alex Le. The team offers up tasty, vibrant dishes including soft shell crab vermicelli, Souther Vietnamese curry, pho and more. Be sure to save space for their inspired desserts—avocado yuzu curd tarts, brown butter pound cake with  toasted coconut, sorbets and soft serve.

Ohana Hale Marketplace

Hawaii’s largest indoor market, Ohana Hale Marketplace looks somewhat mundane from the outside, but inside are 250+ shops and 50+ kiosks, each one a local small business. From BYOB sushi bars to hot dog vendors, the snacks are bountiful and easy to navigate, as all food stalls line the perimeter of the massive space. Permanent booths—selling everything from handmade jewelry to pool toys, craft supplies, superhero figurines and beyond—create a flea market atmosphere. 

Check out this Google Map for a full list of the places above, plus more of our favorites in Honolulu.

Hero image by Josh Rubin

EcoLogicStudio has designed the Bit.Bio.Bot exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale, which invites visitors to taste freshly harvested algae and consider growing it in their own homes.

Combining architecture and microbiology, the exhibition shows how city dwellers could purify the air, sequester carbon, gain a sustainable food source and enjoy a greater connection to nature by cultivating their own algae.

Algae are powerful photosynthesisers and can consume more carbon dioxide than trees.

London-based EcoLogicStudio, which has been working with the ancient microbes for 10 years, describes them as having “a unique biological intelligence” because their metabolism is so efficient.

In its exhibition, it presents two architectural systems for harnessing this power through domestic-scale bioreactors — one in the form of “living cladding” that turns walls into air purifiers, and another in the form of a vertical garden that allows for algae farming.

Algae are among the most nutritious organisms on earth, and the two kinds that EcoLogicStudio are growing in Bit.Bio.Bot — spirulina platensis and chlorella — are already widely consumed as health supplements.

To explore their culinary potential, there is also a third installation, the Convivium, a table where people can gather to experiment with and taste the freshly harvested algae.

The table holds 36 unique pieces of crystal glassware, 3D-printed by Swarovski from EcoLogicStudio’s design, with shapes that are based on the morphogenesis of microalgae cells.

“The taste of spirulina is intense and by nature a bit salty,” EcoLogicStudio co-founder Marco Poletto told Dezeen. “We worked with chefs to develop gels that could enhance the taste of spirulina and that could be drunk via the 3D glassware part of the Convivium.”

“We really hope we will be able to let visitors taste it later on during this Biennale [once Covid safety restrictions are lifted].”

The other two installations in the exhibition adapt two of EcoLogicStudio’s existing product designs — the curtain-like PhotoSynthEtica cladding and the BioBombola DIY edible algae kit.

The PhotoSynthEtica cladding was created to cover new and existing buildings and serves as both a sunshade and photobioreactor that purifies the air. It contains algae in a biogel contained in digitally welded channels.

The Living Cladding section features 10 PhotoSynthEtica sheets that were specially made for this exhibit, with a pattern informed by the surrounding brick walls.

Within the space enclosed by the Living Cladding, there are 15 BioBombola units arranged on a three-metre-tall steel Vertical Garden structure that demonstrates how algae could be farmed at home or in urban facilities.

Made of lab-grade borosilicate glass and 3D-printed bioplastic, each BioBombola produces up to 100 grams of edible algae a week, which EcoLogicStudio says equates to enough protein for a family of four.

The studio also estimates that each unit, containing 10 litres of microalgae cultures, absorbs as much carbon dioxide as three large mature trees. This “provides a clear path to carbon neutrality in architecture,” according to the studio.

EcoLogicStudio’s projects conceive architecture as a symbiotic organism, one where human and non-human organisms live together.

“The future of green technologies emerging from the landscapes of the post-anthropocene era is wet, soft and behavioural,” studio co-founder Claudia Pasquero told Dezeen.

“Cities are evolving into intelligent super-organisms and shall become capable of searching for opportunities of co-evolution within the urban sphere, both for their human and non-human citizens.”

The Bit.Bio.Bot exhibition is so named because it combines computational design strategies (bit) with fabrication techniques (bot) to “implement a collective microbiological cultivation protocol” (bio).

It is part of the Venice Architecture Biennale’s Arsenale venue, curated by Hashim Sarkis, and features in a section titled As New Households.

The installations are fully reversible and have all found future homes in the community where they will go once the exhibition ends.

Photography is by Marco Cappelletti.

Bit.Bio.Bot will be on display at the Corderie, Arsenale as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale, which takes place from 22 May to 21 November 2021. See Dezeen Events Guide for all the latest information you need to know to attend the event, as well as a list of other architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Project credits:
Project Team: Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto with Eirini Tsomouku, Oscar Villarreal, Claudia Handler, Korbinian Enzinger, Terezia Greskova, Alessandra Poletto, Emiliano Rando, Joy Bolois.
Academic partners: Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD Innsbruck University, Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO The Bartlett UCL
With the additional support of: Innsbruck University, Swarovski, Ecoduna, Destination Wattens, anonymous donor

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Dezeen Showroom: Spanish brand Estiluz has introduced a planter ring into its Circ lighting collection by Nahtrang Studio, creating a hybrid chandelier with greenery.

Circ is a collection for both indoors and outdoors that combines spheres of light with iron rings or supports.

The new planter is designed to combine with the Circ suspension pendant: a modern chandelier with several spheres dotted around one or two metal rings.

It features a ring of natural-looking artificial plants, which are suspended from the ceiling and hang below the light ring, bringing a contemporary greenery feature into interiors.

Circ pendants feature satin glass shades and integrated dimmable LEDs.

The planter ring can also be combined with the Laverd and other chandeliers that suit large spaces and high ceilings.

Product: Circ
Designer: Nahtrang Studio
Brand: Estiluz
Contact: estiluz@estiluz.com

About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen’s huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.

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Tesla’s most popular car to date, the Model 3, was announced in 2016. Its most recent production unit, the Model Y, was announced in March of 2019, more than 2 years ago. Ever since that moment up until now, Tesla’s debuted the Roadster 2nd Gen, the Tesla Semi, the Cybertruck, the Cyberquad, and finally today, an updated Roadster 2nd Gen (SpaceX Package). It hasn’t committed to a delivery date for any of them.

Imagine you ordered the iPhone 12 in 2020, and Apple said it would deliver the smartphone to you in 2021. You wait for a year and instead of receiving an iPhone 12, you receive news that Apple, instead of working on producing and delivering the iPhone 12, spent all that time designing an iPhone 12S. Apple now has two conceptual products in its catalog, and you, the consumer, have nothing in your hand. That’s the short story of the Tesla Roadster. If you’re one of the thousands of people who have been waiting for the 2nd Gen Roadster since 2019, you probably feel pretty annoyed that Tesla already announced a better version without even delivering on its previous version. You can’t even buy the Roadster 1st Gen since the company promptly discontinued it. In short, the Roadster is basically a myth at this point… quite like the Cybertruck.

Along with its Roadster 2nd Gen update, Tesla also sent a shoutout mail to the millions of people who ordered a Cybertruck saying… well, saying that the company hadn’t even begun producing it yet. The pickup truck, which was scheduled for delivery in 2021 will start production at the end of 2021. In short, that $100 pre-order you gave to the car company was just one massive paid newsletter program. You’re not going to receive cars by a long stretch in time… you’re just going to receive updates.

All this sort of proves one point that many people have been making for a while now. Let’s first start by acknowledging that producing cars is HARD. It’s an absolute herculean task taking a sketch or a concept render all the way to production – it requires a tonne of money, man-power, infrastructure, a robust supply chain, international cooperation, extensive testing, and a marketing team on steroids. That being said, it’s safe to opine that Tesla isn’t selling cars anymore – it’s selling hype, and more than an entrepreneur, Elon is a hypeman. There’s no doubt that Tesla is at the very forefront of innovation, but it’s difficult to digest that the company’s worth shot up from $75 billion in 2019, to $559 billion today when it hasn’t produced a single new car in the interim.

Full disclosure, I own Tesla stock. I saw its meteoric rise last year and fall this year. I’d love to drag Elon through the mud for being the market manipulator dudebro he is. Ever since his $420 tweet up until now, where he somehow has the power to make cryptocurrency values rise or fall just by tweeting about them, Musk is nothing but a self-proclaimed hustler but this isn’t about him, it’s about the effect he has on Tesla’s ability to hold its ground as a car manufacturer instead of becoming a hype manufacturer.

For the sake of context, let’s just look at what Tesla announced this weekend. The company’s NY account announced that the Roadster prototype was being showcased at the Petersen Automotive Museum, to which Elon promptly announced that the production model would look even better than the prototype, and a special SpaceX package (courtesy a collaboration between two of Elon’s companies) would see the Roadster getting a major acceleration upgrade of 0-60 in 1.1 seconds, thanks to the presence of cold air rocket thrusters built right into the automobile. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it also sounds imaginary because the Roadster IS imaginary. Those specs mean nothing if the product doesn’t exist. It’s a lot like Musk’s fancy underground tunnel network, which was supposed to help cars avoid traffic by blitzing through sub-surface tunnels at nearly the speed of sound. A demo video released by The Boring Company showed pretty much that, except the cars were moving at a paltry 40mph. Musk also was responsible for major fanfare around Neuralink, his revolutionary brain-augmenting hardware company. Their first major demo had nothing except for a few pigs demonstrating how the Neuralink chip could read brainwaves. Impressive, sure. Is it what Elon promised? Not by a far shot.

The irony of me being the editor of a design website that primarily covers conceptual content isn’t lost on me. However, those concepts don’t trade on the stock market. After a certain point, what’s the difference between Tesla and some designer with a Behance profile – they both announce concepts, except one of them’s a $559 billion-dollar company. What’s the point of innovation if it won’t exist for another half-decade (a conservative guess, no less)… we’re also assuming that Tesla will actually deliver on these promises – so if it doesn’t, how is Tesla any different than Theranos or Magic Leap??

You see, the reason I used Apple as an example earlier on is that barring the AirPower, Apple’s always been absolutely 100% certain of its capabilities. It announces products it intends on delivering in the near future. Apple is great at innovating WHILE managing its expectations… and if Tesla wants to be treated as a disruptor and a company modeled on the fast-paced Silicon Valley modus operandi, it better deliver too. Not on ideas, not on random flip-flops between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, but on expectations. Sure, I understand that car-companies often announce models that take a year or two to produce. However, Tesla isn’t most car companies, and the Roadster still doesn’t have a definite set-in-stone delivery date even 2 years post its announcement. Heck, the Cybertruck was announced 20 months ago and it still won’t begin production for another 6 months at the least. There’s no doubt in my mind that electric cars are the future… but let’s face it, every tweet Elon sends needs to end with “Terms and Conditions Apply”.

Designer Charlie Nghiem imagines what the Tesla Roadster SpaceX Package could look like