the smart ebike design tour visits barcelona design week

the smart ebike design tour visits barcelona design week
photo by alex bellart

with barcelona design week in full swing, the smart ebike design tour takes to the streets of the spanish metropolis, hitting up eight of the creative event’s hotspots over two excursions. parking the smart ebike station outside the main entrance of the barcelona disseny hub, the first smart ebike design tour explored a district of the catalonian capital that is up and coming. in previous years the area was overlooked because of violence and poverty, but recently has been under renewal with the development of modern and sustainable housing and offices, becoming an attractive area for young people to settle.

the smart ebike design tour in barcelona
photo by alex bellart

the first stop of the barcelona smart ebike design tour was the disseny hub by MBM arquitectes
see more about this project on designboom here

the first stop was at the disseny hub (barcelona design hub). the point represents the convergence of knowledge and culture, featuring exhibitions and design-related activities for all ages – focusing on four main creative disciplines: space, product, information and fashion. the monolithic architecture of the institution conceived by MBM arquitectes stands as a cantilevered structure to maximize green space of the site.

media ITC by enric ruiz geli
photo: josé miguel mernandez 
see more about this project on designboom here

next up was ‘media ICT‘ designed by local architect enric ruiz geli. envisioned as a communications center and meeting point for organizations and individuals related to media and audio visual sectors. participants took in the impressive architecture of the building that is defined by a façade of inflatable cladding that creates shade on the interior via a pneumatic system. 

smart ebikes parked outside of the ‘media ITC’
photo by alex bellar

hitting up the B.D. barcelona showroom
photo by alex bellart

the tour then cycled on over to the flagship showroom of B.D. barcelona, a spanish company known for collaborating with international designers to develop a line of innovative and playful furniture. the group was given an explanation behind the pieces currently being presented on the floor, and the creative influences which drive the company’s collection.

the smart ebike design tour getting a walk-through of the B.D. barcelona showroom
photo by alex bellart

outside of barcelona’s ‘encants’ flea market
photo by alex bellart
see more about this project on designboom here

to conclude the day, everyone headed over to ‘encants‘. the flea market in the heart of the city takes in the eclectic range of products offered for purchase – from the new to the old, hand made to hi-tech. the final stop of was full of lively activity, and a fun way to top off the event.

outsisde fàbrica del sol, the first stop of the barcelona smart ebike design tour part tour
photo by alex bellart

the second barcelona smart ebike design tour ventured into the old town, kicking-off at la fàbrica del sol, a municipal facility for environmental education. the cyclists were given a brief overview of the organization’s programs and intentions, immersed in the world of eco design and how to create for a more sustainable future.

at the trendy studiostore
photo by alex bellart

switching gears, the second hotspot they dropped by was the studiostore – a studio, store, creative lab and social hub all rolled into one. here, participants got a glimpse into the contemporary spanish design scene and had the opportunity to engage and interact with objects first hand.

at MIBA, the museum of ideas and inventions
photo by alex bellart

moving onto MIBA (museum of ideas and inventions), individuals were taken on a walk-through the ‘reflectionarium’ exhibition. organized in a didactic manner, the show presents an overview of inventions that make one change their perspective on the most appropriate solution to a problem.

smart ebike’s displayed at MIBA
photo by alex bellart

the last check-in was at miscelanea, a studio and gallery-like environment which focuses on the visualization of local and international culture. the current show ‘world war X, from spain cañí the unknown’, looks at the work of paulová, in particular her series of ‘atomic landscapes’. at first glance they seem to reference embroidered tapestries depicting pastoral landscapes, but upon closer inspection reveal a moment of catastrophe that plagues the scene.

cyclists waiting to take to the streets of barcelona
photo by alex bellart

smart ebike
photo by alex bellart

participants of each design tour experience the features of the smart ebike first hand, riding around and seeing just how easy it is to get around a city without stress. a great form of transportation in any urban environment, the two-wheeler can function either on an 250 watt electric motor – as a result of the integrated pedelec (pedel electric cycle) system – or via the physical exertion of the rider. a maintenance-free and brushless rear-wheel hub motor from BionX offers four levels in both the drive and generator mode, thus letting one decide how much assistance they require while riding – up to 25km/h can be reached with the electric motor, while higher speeds can be reached through conventional pedaling. in addition, the four generator levels give you the choice of determining whether you want to recharge the battery while pedaling or coasting downhill.

on the barcelona streets, experiencing just how easy it is to get around the city with a smart ebike
photo by alex bellart

to ensure safety on the city streets, a magura hydraulic disc brake system is featured, which offers security even in wet weather thanks to 180mm perforated disks, which also control energy recuperation. operating the brake lever is all that is needed to trigger this function – it interrupts the assistance from the electric motor, with kinetic energy channeled into the battery instead.

just a bit of sunshine, design and a whole lot of biking…
photo by alex bellart

what makes the design of the smart ebike so seamless is that the battery is concealed within the frame. with 423 watt hours, the compact lithium-ion battery is among the most powerful on the market and has the capacity to cover up to 100 km on a single charge depending on the cyclist, cycling style, the topography of the route and the drive or generator level selected. the battery’s positioning also ensures safe and stable handling.

photo by alex bellart

the stop in barcelona rounds out the smart ebike design tour’s 2014 schedule, following stop-offs in vienna and cologne. stayed tuned for upcoming events and schedules by visiting smart’s bettery magazine!