Embassy of Mobility

Take a different look at mobility

‘At the Embassy of Mobility we will explore the theme of mobility from a variety of perspectives,’ says independent business consultant Nienke Dijkstra, who is in charge of the content of the Embassy’s programme. ‘We are looking at the role of mobility in urban development and environmental issues, at technical developments and the role of digitalisation in society. But we will also explore what nature can teach us in this respect as well as potential links with themes other Embassies are highlighting, such as Food and Health.’

Mobility isn’t just about how we get from A to B. It influences almost every facet of society. It determines in part how we behave towards one another. Which is precisely why it makes sense to discuss all these questions with mobility experts and the public. Designers can help us take a different look at the subject of mobility.

However, designers are not the only ones who will be given the opportunity to brainstorm at this Embassy. Its diverse programme will also enable visitors to look, listen, participate, try out and construct. The Embassy is appropriately located in the former V&D building in the centre of Eindhoven, which is hosting the Warehouse of Innovation until the end of 2018.

The Warehouse of Innovation is a showcase for everything Eindhoven has to offer in terms of technology and innovation. It’s an arena for questions and solutions concerning Smart Cities, Health, Energy, Food and Mobility. A warehouse full of stimulating projects and ideas that paints a picture of what the future has in store for us.

The meaning of mobility

The Embassy of Mobility centres on an inspirational exhibition that explores the future of urban mobility. A variety of projects will highlight innovative and poetic approaches to the theme of ‘movement’. The concepts on display will combine to enable visitors to experience what mobility means and to experience the possibility of moving around freely, without having to worry about issues such as the climate.

There will be a test circuit around the exhibition where visitors will be able to try out new, innovative electric transportation vehicles ranging from monowheels and Segways to electric scooters and skateboards. An instructor will be on site to help visitors familiarise themselves with these clean, handy and fun alternatives for everyday urban transportation. ‘This way we aim to allow people to experience first-hand that there are other ways of getting around besides traditional modes of transport,’ says urban developer Harm Rensink, who is responsible for designing and compiling the exhibition and the test circuit.

Original creations

At the Embassy of Mobility we don’t just want to display what already exists, though. We are also keen to let visitors exercise their imagination too. Which is why we will invite people to participate in a workshop during which they can create their own ideal mode of transport. After the workshop, everyone will be able to test-drive their own creations on the test circuit. Who knows, maybe this will be the start of a new mobility revolution.

Expert Talks – daily at 5 pm, starting on Sunday

During the DDW, the Embassy of Mobility will organise a programme of daily, one-hour lectures, each featuring two sustainable mobility experts who will present different perspectives on the subject. Each day’s programme will consist of an introductory vision and a creative solution.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, representatives of Renault’s design team will be on site too. This will be mediated by Dutch designer Laurens van den Acker.

The lecture programme consists of the following:

Monday

Tapping into nature

Biomimicry & mobility: How does nature inspire mobility solutions?

Tuesday

Crossover works

About potential links with other Embassies

Wednesday

Smart cities & smart citizens

How can we harness mobility to benefit urban development and what are the challenges in this context?

Thursday

Mobility for the good

About the social impact of mobility solutions

Friday

Smarten-up mobility

About smart design solutions for mobility issues

Saturday

Hacking the infrastructure

About mobility in the digital age