THE RETURN OF NATURE - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SCENARIO
BUS 2010 DESIGN AWARD WINNER - 2006.10.19



BUS 2010 DESIGN AWARD

Slightly modified for Scandinavian conditions, the bus from this project won first prize in the Bus 2010 Design Award. This is a design award rewarding new ideas of making public transportation more accessible and attractive in the next decade. Organized by SLTF – the Swedish Public Transport Association together with The Swedish Bus and Coach Federation and sponsored by Scania, Man, Volvo, Vdl and Neoplan. The first prize included cash money at a value of 30 000 SEK (4.000 USD)



THE RETURN OF NATURE

As a future scenario of a more sustainable, accessible and attractive urban traffic situation in Nagoya City, Japan, I designed products as "actors", in creating a narrative environmental experience that interacts with the city and the society.

Based on current social trends in Japan and influenced by the old Shinto tradition and ancient animistic beliefs in the spirits of nature (kami), this public transportation scenario for the next decade is designed to bring harmony between the natural environment, the human beings and the machines (technology).

Story: "The spirits from nature" returns to the city in the shape of an environmental-friendly public transportation solution.






LEAF

Leaf influenced ramps are placed all over the city. They both serve as a decoration for the city and a ramp that makes it easier to people with wheelchairs, walking frames and baby carriers etc. to board the bus.

SNAIL

The electric fuel cell bus is just like the snail, maybe a bit slow, but very kind and friendly. This environmental-friendly electric bus, with the spirit of the snail, slowly moves from leaf to leaf to transport the people around the city, without any noise or pollution

MUSHROOM

At some places mushroom like roofs pop up among the leaves. They protect the people from heavy rain and hot sunshine.




KODAMA

Kodama means "echo" (its literal meaning is "tree spirit"). In ancient Japanese tales Kodama are a kind of spirits who hide in the forest.


KODAMA SOUND INSTALLATION

In the shadow, under the mushroom roof at the Bus Stop, the Kodama hides...

A solar powered Sound Installation randomly records the voices from the peoples conversation at the Bus Stop. The voices are processed by digital delay and floating whispering sound patterns based on the voices are randomly panned through the Surround Sound System. Sometimes traces of the peoples voices can be heard even a long time after the people have left the Bus Stop.









THE MUSHROOM ROOF

The rain is collected at the bottom of the blades and lead to a central well. This makes it possible to see the sky and the clouds through the roof between the blades. It is designed not to block the nature out, just to protect the people from the rain water.





THE LEAF RAMP

The ramp at the bus stop, shaped like a leaf, makes the boarding of the bus more accessible for all people. The ramp connects to the accessibility area of the bus.







THE AREAS OF THE BUS

The placement of the tentacle shaped engines/wheels underneath a height adjustable shell-like cabin provides extra low floor in the center. The different areas of the bus is designed to meet different user needs and to make the public transportation an accessible and attractive way of traveling in the city to everyone.










USER SCENARIOS

User scenarios representing tree different user groups. (Mouse over the images for text content. )









RESEARCH AND THOUGHTS

The aim of the project was not to find in detail solutions, but rather to create a possible future scenario, an overall concept containing a lot of ideas. This project was made during my stay in Japan and to me this was a great experience in meeting and understanding a foreign society and culture.

I studied the city architecture of central Nagoya because I wanted the bus and bus stop to visually feel like a natural part of the city environment.

I studied current social trends in Nagoya and Japan because I wanted the public transportation to interact with the society and to meet the needs from different user groups.

I studied the historical roots and traditional beliefs in Japan with an ambition to reach the inner spirit of the Japanese citizens.

I travelled outside the city, to a wildlife protection area in the north of Aichi prefecture, to meet and experience the beautiful pure nature of Japan. Because the core issue of this concept is to be in harmony, not only with the people but also with the natural environment.






Cental Nagoya, Nagoya Station, April 2006




JOAKIM OSCARSSON 2006   www.joakimoscarsson.com