Project Overview

While bicycle use is growing exponentially worldwide, stylish people should have an equally stylish place to park their bikes in ZEPHYR.

ZEPHYR is an alternative, sophisticated and functional solution to the standard 'just a bent piece of pipe' bike parking facility.

Organisation

Barrier Group

Team

Huiming Wong - Industrial Designer

Project Brief

ZEPHYR is a stunning short or long term bicycle storage solution. Incorporate it into a cutting edge architectural setting and it becomes a sculptured bollard, a classic design element. In the town square or park it is a gathering point, a place to stop, to chat, to bide a while with friends. Or then again, is it simply a beautiful piece of public sculpture, one that invites you to run your hands over its sumptuous metallic form, its smooth and generous curves?

Project Innovation/Need

As the world steadily becomes a more urban environment, with people seeking recreation outdoors in public spaces, the deployment of street furniture of high design values will be of vital importance to our quality of life. There is a danger that public spaces can degenerate into barren uninviting wastelands that become abandoned and unsafe. It will be important for local authorities breathe life into these open spaces by making them welcoming and secure, and showing they are cared for in the way they are landscaped and fitted with amenities.

ZEPHYR’s architectural form is designed to be a sculptural element. From its earliest concepts, we wanted something that is more than just a bent piece of pipe. It had to be unique and have an almost sensual look and feel to it. We believe we have achieved this. ZEPHYR's design ensures that bicycles of any size can be locked in a stable, upright position. ZEPHYR complies with AS2890.3-1993 for class 3 bicycle security. ZEPHYR's multifunctional design means it can also be used as a sophisticated sculptural bollard.

Design Challenge

ZEPHYR has been developed over two years by Australian company Barrier Group Pty Ltd. It’s taken many hours of conceptual drawing, followed by CAD design work and rapid prototyping to finalise the design.

The challenges we faced throughout the design stage were to marry what is a very complex one piece casting to technologies and expertise available in Australia. We did this by investing heavily in steel casting moulds. This allowed us repeatability at an affordable price that we would never have achieved with conventional sand casting.

Sustainability

We are very proud of the fact that ZEPHYR is 100% Australian produced. It is designed, developed and manufactured in Victoria, Australia with AA601 aluminium from Tasmania, Australia.

ZEPHYR's one-piece casting can be 100% recycled and remelted at its end of life.