Electrolux Design Lab 2010 Finalist: Nicolas Hubert

Published 2010-08-24 in Design Lab 2010 Competition

Nicolas Hubert, a French industrial design student studying in China, used his everyday experience of living in Shanghai to respond to the challenge of this year’s Electrolux Design Lab, specifically finding efficient ways of maximising space at home.  Here we take a closer look at the benefits of the ‘External Refrigerator’.

Background:
Two years in China provided the inspiration for Nicolas Hubert’s external refrigerator. Fixed directly on the outside wall of residential buildings, the concept is an elaboration on a way of life in northern China where food is kept on balconies in the winter to save space and energy. During cold seasons and at night, the low external temperatures are used to provide the right climate for items in the fridge. During warmer weather, the sun is used to transform light into energy through solar panels. Nicolas reflects Electrolux design values: the shape and finish are kept pure and simple so as to ensure easy integration with the external urban environment, whilst a range of colours and ambient lighting facilitate this further still.

What was the inspiration for your concept?

I draw my inspiration from my everyday life in China. I’ve been living in China for 2 years and I still discover some fascinating aspects of their culture and way of living. Observing their behaviours and habits, I tried to focus on how they deal with small spaces. In big cities like Shanghai, space is a luxury so people find ways to make those small apartments bigger using for example the outside as part of their own space.

How does your concept fit into the theme of compact living?
My concept gives clues on how to avoid the constraints of limited space in future apartments. My project involves a new concept: The use of an unexploited area, the outside. It provides for the inside a greater space to organize furniture and to enjoy home activities.

Why would someone want your concept (what are its main benefits)?
Mainly because my concept increases inside home space for the consumer activities. Secondly, this solution will help the consumer save energy and money by reducing the electric consumption thanks to the re-use of the outside low temperature during winter and the collect of sun energy during the summer.
Beyond the space saving benefit, this concept permits to combine both refrigerator and air conditioning system at home.

Describe the consumer research behind your concept?
I went on the field and focused my project research locally on the food storage habits of Chinese consumers. I observed and analysed this behaviour in the north of China, where during the cold season they take advantage of the outside low temperature to keep the food fresh on their balcony. This permits to unplug their fridge in winter, save money and by extension energy.

What kind of materials would you use to build your concept?
The development of my concept keeps the same main materials used for the current refrigerators, like ABS high quality for the inside body. I chose Polycarbonate plastic for the external cover shape, which allows lightning effect. To control the refrigerator and receive information from the device, a capacitive-sensing touch screen area would be perfectly integrated on the door. On the top part of the refrigerator, a solar panel is added. Considering recent advance in this technology we can hope to reach an efficiency of 25% in coming years. To protect the refrigerator from sun heat, a combination of air layer and dense polystyrene material would efficiently insulate the device in summer season.

Who is your favourite designer?
If I have to pick one, currently it’s Jan Chipchase for his impressive work in the social design field. The way he works to understand and discover the needs and wants of consumers by going directly on the field in the true intimate behaviour of people, is very inspiring for me. Now he is working in Shanghai, I hope I will get one day the opportunity to meet him.

What are your career goals?
I would like to acquire experience on various challenging projects and start my career in China. Here the design is a growing activity and as a future professional designer it is a great opportunity to hunt and understand distinctive products possibilities for new consumers.