Cell - Vordiplom
Energy storage for small communities
Design Documentation
Cell is an energy storage system designed for public spaces. It stores surplus solar power from up to sixty households within an energy community during the day and releases it in the evening. This creates a shared, efficient and local energy supply. Cell not only replaces expensive individual devices but establishes a system built on participation.
The object is placed visibly in the urban space. It can be used, understood and experienced. Energy is no longer hidden inside closed technology but becomes part of everyday life. Cell connects infrastructure and design creating a system that does not hide but offers a shared space.
The design follows a clear idea. Cell was not meant to look like a technical device but as a calm and open volume. The form evolved through sketches, models and studies on use, scale and material. The result is a solid concrete structure with a translucent inlay that responds to the body, guides light and communicates information.
Integrated charging points supply mobile devices, market stalls or e bikes. A subtle light line indicates charging states. Everything remains legible yet restrained. A companion app extends the physical object with a digital layer that reinforces the communal character and makes energy data accessible.
Design Process
Cell approaches infrastructure with a focus on accessibility rather than concealment. The aim is not to hide technology but to make it usable and part of the shared environment. It creates a space that stores energy while offering shelter, orientation and participation.
The system is modular and can operate in different configurations. It remains adaptable to various user groups, locations and organizational models. Cell demonstrates that energy does not have to remain abstract it can become visible, tangible and part of a collective space.
