Everyone remembers the classic Fred Flintstone car; a simple design made from rock, wood, and animal hide that is powered by the feet of those riding within it. Not only does the design solve the whole âinternal combustion engines havenât been invented yetâ thing, but it is also a completely sustainable design that provides quite a workout for the passengers.
Well, welcome to the 21st century version of the Flintstones car with the unveiling of a new design for a floating, mobile gym that is powered by, you guessed it, the people exercising within it.
Named the Paris Navigating Gym and designed by Italian architects Carlo Ratti Associati, the 20-meter long vessel can hold up to 45 people and gets its energy through the use of Technogym ARTIS machines. These machines can harness human energy created during a workout and use it for other purposes. When someone hops onto one of the vesselâs ARTIS bikes or cross trainers, they will not just be getting a workout, but they will also be helping to power the gym along the Seine as it makes its way through Paris.
The boat will have augmented reality screens to show users the quantity of energy created by their workout and data about the riverâs environmental conditions, tracked and provided in real time thanks to sensors on the boat. A transparent glass cover allows the boat to be used year round and can open to allow fresh air in during the summer.
In addition to Carlo Ratti Associati and Technogym, the Paris Navigating Gym was developed in collaboration with Terreform ONE, a non-profit architecture group, and the urban regeneration institute URBEM.
Â
Rendering courtesy of Carlo Ratti Associati
Related Stories
Green | Aug 29, 2016
Vancouver, B.C., to require zero emissions on new buildings by 2030
No net GHG emissions will be allowed.
Energy Efficiency | Aug 17, 2016
Investor Confidence Project aimed at raising trustworthiness on energy efficiency projects
The new initiative screens projects to see if they are investor-ready.
Sustainability | Aug 4, 2016
S.F. Bay Area voters approve first-of-its-kind tax to fight impact of climate change
The funds from the tax will be used to restore wetlands
Sustainability | Jul 12, 2016
Wellness is the missing link to sustainable real estate value
Healthier and happier employees benefit a companyâs bottom line. Paladino senior project manager Divya Natarajan writes that the proof lies within results from the evidence-based WELL Building Standard.
Urban Planning | Jun 9, 2016
Triptyque Architecture designs air-cleansing hanging highway garden in SĂŁo Paulo
The garden would filter as much as 20% of CO2Â emissions while also providing a place for cultural events and community activities.
Sustainability | Jun 8, 2016
New program certifies the performance of existing buildings in the U.S.
BREEAM USA, an offshoot of a program already in place in Europe, aims to ease the point of entry. Â
Urban Planning | May 31, 2016
The entire Swedish city of Kiruna is being relocated to prevent it from collapsing into underground iron mines
Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, and its 20,000 residents will be moved two miles to the east by 2040.
Green | May 23, 2016
Perkins+Will achieves first Living Building Challenge Certification with Vancouver visitors center
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre was recognized for its use of healthy building materials, on-site renewable resources, and filtered rainwater to meet greywater requirements.
Wood | Apr 29, 2016
Anders Berensson Architects designs 40-story wooden skyscraper for Stockholm
The structure, which will be made entirely out of cross-laminated timber, will rise 436 feet into the air, making it Stockholmâs tallest building.
Sustainability | Apr 20, 2016
5 ways rapid tech growth can drive sustainability leadership in Seattle
Paladino's Nash Emrich writes that Seattle can keep its edge in sustainability by leveraging new energy performance transparency rules, using wellness to attract top tech talent, and embracing innovative commuting options.
