Many people lower their heads to play with their phones while riding in a car, not even knowing who is sitting next to them. This sense of alienation within this group is a reflection of Hong Kong people. Recently, Italian designer Andrea Ponti who resides in Hong Kong, designed a driverless social electric car called “Agora E”, with a compact exterior resembling a private room for gathering with friends. The designer hopes that this car will promote interaction among passengers.
“Agora E” is named after the Greek word for “square,” drawing inspiration from the concept of the public gathering places in ancient Greek cities. These places once represented the center of a city’s political, economic, and social life, as well as being social hubs for people. The main idea proposed by “Agora E” is to encourage dialogue and meaningful interaction through design, promoting face-to-face socializing.
The interior design of the cabin focuses on presenting a continuous, circular arrangement of seats, with passengers sitting facing inwards. The open space in the center of the cabin can be used for standing, wheelchair parking, or placing luggage. The entire cabin is made of recyclable and renewable materials to minimize the product’s impact on the environment. The simplified silhouette maximizes the use of space inside the cabin (able to accommodate up to 10 passengers), while also minimizing its volume, making it an ideal choice for commercial transportation in busy urban settings.
The deep and calm green exudes a sense of comfort and happiness, while also reflecting the design concept of sustainable development of the product. The large glass panels can transmit natural light during the day, showcasing Hong Kong’s iconic cityscape both day and night.
In the past few years, due to the impact of the epidemic, face-to-face communication between people has become a luxury, not to mention meeting new friends in new places. The meaning of “Agora E” is to allow us to rediscover and appreciate the importance of interpersonal interaction in public spaces. Although this design has not been implemented yet, do you like the exquisite appearance of this car and the design concept behind it?
Image source and learn more: Andrea Ponti
