Architect：Hewitt Studios LLP

Location：Glass Yard, London, UK; | ;View Map

Project Year：2021

Category：Car Parks;Highways

Hewitt Studios LLP unveils the first of its pioneering K:Port® Mobility Hubs in London and Portishead, which have been designed to inspire and enable the sustainable electrification of transport.

K:Port® is a low-carbon, multi-modal transport solution designed to democratise e-mobility and inspire behavioural change within the communities it serves. Unlike established and familiar solutions it allows deployment in prominent and sensitive locations, with minimal environmental impact and a secure & flexible long-term legacy.

K:Port® represents a fresh approach to e-mobility and a declaration of the ‘art of the possible’. Hewitt Studios’ intention is that this attractive, front-of house mobility hub offer will, with a clear focus on well-being, health and sustainability, help to motive consumer changes in behaviour.

Hewitt Studios’ concept for K:Port® derives from the Japanese notion of “Komorebi”; the dappled light which occurs when sunlight shines through the leaves of a tree. The essence of the tree is apparent throughout the K:Port®, from the form of the canopy itself and the timbers which make up its structure, to the collection and use of rainwater and sunlight via the solar PV surface - this is photosynthetic architecture! 

K:Port® has sustainability at its core. It is resource efficient, with a carbon-sequestering, responsibly sourced timber structure and options for rainwater harvesting, sustainable drainage and net-gain biodiversity. It is energy efficient, with integrated energy generation from the Solar PV canopy and can be upgraded with battery storage and smart charging. K:Port® can also be Smart City enabled with smart sensors, energy monitoring and energy aggregation functionality.

K:Port® is designed to be easy, enjoyable and safe to use. The high-quality environment can be made available 24/7 via the incorporation of integrated LED lighting, CCTV and motion sensing / EV bay detection. It provides sheltered charging for EVs, e-bikes and e-scooters, keeping equipment dry and cool. Spaces are fully accessible in accordance with Part M and charge points are protected in line with IET guidelines.

K:Port® is capable of rapid implementation, with an established supply chain ready to deliver modular, prefabricated components on site to be constructed in 2-3 weeks. Hewitt Studios have a developed kit of parts available to fit any site, with significant economies of scale to be achieved for large role outs. K:Port® is cheap and easy to maintain and at the end of its life, the timber frame has been designed to be re-locatable (to another site), re-usable (as a building frame) and / or disposable (as biomass fuel), ensuring a long-term sustainable legacy.

A two ‘tree’ K:Port® has been recently been completed for Transport for London, in partnership with ESB Energy and Siemens Mobility, located adjacent to the Woolwich Ferry Terminal at Glass Yard. This provides eight 50kw EV rapid chargers (upgradable to 125kw), battery storage and smart energy management, as well as multi-modal travel connections to cycle route and river crossing. An integrated rain garden and sustainable drainage system will enhance the site’s flood resilience when complete.

A single ‘tree’ K:Port® has also been installed at a prominent site at Parish Wharf in Portishead Marina. It has been delivered for North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority as part of the Revive Network. It was funded by the Office of Zero Emissions vehicles via Go Ultra Low West. Initially, two 50kW EV rapid chargers will serve the four charging bays, with more capacity to be added in the future as demand dictates.

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