Bikes To Mega-Yachts
In an extraordinary career, Philippe Starck has made profound and often revolutionary contributions to nearly every aspect of the design world. There are few areas of design he has not explored—from furniture to kit homes, and to that which we will explore now… vehicles… bikes to mega-yachts.
Starck is a tireless and rebellious citizen of the world who considers it his duty to share his ethical and subversive vision of a fairer world. He deliberately attempts to make his work a political and civic act which he accomplishes "with love, poetry and humor." Thus, Starck developed the revolutionary concept of "Democratic Ecology" by creating affordable wind turbines for the home, and then soon afterward followed by ideas for solar-powered boats and hydrogen cars.
Starck is a tireless and rebellious citizen of the world who considers it his duty to share his ethical and subversive vision of a fairer world. He deliberately attempts to make his work a political and civic act which he accomplishes "with love, poetry and humor." Thus, Starck developed the revolutionary concept of "Democratic Ecology" by creating affordable wind turbines for the home, and then soon afterward followed by ideas for solar-powered boats and hydrogen cars.
Asked by a journalist, "So then, what is your vision for the future of mobility?" Starck responded,
"Mobility—well, really I think we need to make a set of rules. Because nothing is good, nothing is bad when it come to vehicles. As always, it’s how humans use them which is good or bad. Mainly, we use vehicles in a bad way, we don’t use them on the right scale. So, we can say that for 0 - .5 mi, good shoes are good. From .5– 1.5 mi, a moped is perfect. From 1.5 – 5 mi, a light simple scooter of 50cc, like a Vespa, is perfect. From 4.5 – 30 mi, you can use a motorcycle. From 30 - 100 mi, there is a car. From 100 – 300 mi, a train. From 300 - 6000 mi, a plane. From 6,000 to infinity, a rocket, like Virgin Galactic. That means that every vehicle has its own scale of use. The problem is [that] we never use the vehicle with the right scale. That means that for 1 mile, we use a car, which is absolutely ridiculous. Me, I hate cars. But I don’t hate cars for cars. Cars are very smart, very patient, but the way we use [them], destroys humanity and destroys life. Because the more cars, the less there is humanity. That’s why, for vehicles for mobility we must always remember these rules."
Less & More
Starck's favorite way to travel? He says he loves to walk. First, walking. Until he thinks further and restates, "Ah yes, number one is the motorcycle!" And the next one he says, "I have seven boats, I think and I use a lot of boats."
When Starck does think about car-like transportation vehicles, what applies is "Less and more:" two words he uses to describe his new "rolling object," the V+ designed by Starck and conceived by Volteis, a French brand whose philosophy and know-how pleased the designer. In Starck's mind, the V+ is an alternative, a first test to provide a light response, desirable, minimal for those looking to move correctly, differently.
“I wanted to offer an alternative. A different answer to return to the minimalist definition of a vehicle. A simple vehicle. Almost a child’s play. With 4 wheels. A steering wheel. And electricity. A vehicle just here to transport. Transport us and our business. Almost nothing. To have more. More humanity. More respect. More choices to show that we care about our environment.” Ph. Starck
And, it is this thought, this mindset that drove Starck as he unveiled "The Bicycle Of The Future" design project in Bordeaux France. During the second annual edition of "Cyclab," after soliciting ideas from the local community, Philippe Starck presented the final rendering of Pibal, the “ideal city bike,” with Alain Juppé, the Mayor of Bordeaux.
The new bike-scooters were meant to revitalize the bike park and enhance the mobility of the local inhabitants, thanks to a new ergonomic design for an urban environment and produced by Peugeot. The bikes were available on loan to the citizens of Bordeaux. Unfortunately, manufacturer Peugeot could not correct defects of cracks in the framing joints, and the Pibal was withdrawn from circulation rather unceremoniously. The creative effort and design innovation toward a new form of bicycle, though, are worthy of appreciation.
“This idea for a new means of locomotion sprang from the analysis of much feedback from the citizens of Bordeaux, diverse opinions, constructive and intelligent ideas and the specificities of Bordeaux. This revolutionary solution seems to be the inventive and appropriate response to questions being asked regarding pedestrian areas.”
Starck's effort with "StarckBike+M.A.S.S. Collection (Mud.Asphalt.Sand.Snow.)" was a more successful, inventive concept marrying peddled and electric bikes to different environmental applications (hence: Mud.Asphalt.Sand.Snow.).
When Starck does think about car-like transportation vehicles, what applies is "Less and more:" two words he uses to describe his new "rolling object," the V+ designed by Starck and conceived by Volteis, a French brand whose philosophy and know-how pleased the designer. In Starck's mind, the V+ is an alternative, a first test to provide a light response, desirable, minimal for those looking to move correctly, differently.
“I wanted to offer an alternative. A different answer to return to the minimalist definition of a vehicle. A simple vehicle. Almost a child’s play. With 4 wheels. A steering wheel. And electricity. A vehicle just here to transport. Transport us and our business. Almost nothing. To have more. More humanity. More respect. More choices to show that we care about our environment.” Ph. Starck
And, it is this thought, this mindset that drove Starck as he unveiled "The Bicycle Of The Future" design project in Bordeaux France. During the second annual edition of "Cyclab," after soliciting ideas from the local community, Philippe Starck presented the final rendering of Pibal, the “ideal city bike,” with Alain Juppé, the Mayor of Bordeaux.
The new bike-scooters were meant to revitalize the bike park and enhance the mobility of the local inhabitants, thanks to a new ergonomic design for an urban environment and produced by Peugeot. The bikes were available on loan to the citizens of Bordeaux. Unfortunately, manufacturer Peugeot could not correct defects of cracks in the framing joints, and the Pibal was withdrawn from circulation rather unceremoniously. The creative effort and design innovation toward a new form of bicycle, though, are worthy of appreciation.
“This idea for a new means of locomotion sprang from the analysis of much feedback from the citizens of Bordeaux, diverse opinions, constructive and intelligent ideas and the specificities of Bordeaux. This revolutionary solution seems to be the inventive and appropriate response to questions being asked regarding pedestrian areas.”
Starck's effort with "StarckBike+M.A.S.S. Collection (Mud.Asphalt.Sand.Snow.)" was a more successful, inventive concept marrying peddled and electric bikes to different environmental applications (hence: Mud.Asphalt.Sand.Snow.).