For this project I am designing a community support vehicle for rural and remote areas. It addresses the problems caused by recent cuts to services, such as the closing of Post Office's, the termination of bus services and cuts to local authorities.
It works as a vehicle that delivers groceries to a community, like many supermarkets do already, but it will then go on and park in the village where it will become a community meeting hub. Where local residents can meet, the idea is to create a greater social bonding, as is being advertised by the government with the idea of The Big Society.
It will also offer restricted services from the Post Office and can be used by the local authorities as a place where bill payments can take place.
It is at a conceptual phase so far, so development will continue and changes to the idea are likely to be seen on the next post for this.
But here are some images so far.
I have employed a friendly aesthetic on the vehicle as to create a design that is welcoming and encourages the community to meet at the vehicle. It also gives the companies running the services, good social corporate responsibility.
A sketch showing how the vehicle expands out, creating a larger volume that enables more people to meet in and around the vehicle.
A very simple interior so that the operator can focus on providing a good service. A tablet screen will also enable the operator to view orders etc.
An over head view of how the vehicle expands out, creating a sheltered area for users of the vehicle.
For the purpose of grocery delivery, one of the panels that lift will also slide, creating a space more easily accessible.
