Powering Progress

By the 2010s, electric vehicles (EVs) were transitioning from a niche interest to a mainstream movement. Once viewed as quirky eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cars, EVs were starting to prove themselves as practical, powerful, and desirable options for environmentally conscious consumers. Stricter emissions regulations in Europe and the U.S., alongside the Dieselgate scandal in 2015, accelerated this shift. Today, one in five new cars sold is electric.

As EV adoption spread, so did the need for charging stations—a gap EIGHT Point.One filled. LAVA’s solar-powered prototype sought to align e-mobility with a vision of a greener future. The design is based around a dihedral-arched framework made from lightweight, durable aluminum. This organic curve, which rises from the ground to form a protective canopy, shelters vehicles as they charge. Topped with photovoltaic panels and equipped with a digital interface, the charging station captures the energy needed to power EVs and redirects any excess back into the grid. Utilitarian and symbolic, the design aims to be “iconographic for a new generation of energy,” says LAVA Partner Alexander Rieck.

Designed using parametric modeling and digital fabrication techniques to streamline manufacturing, simplify assembly, and ensure end-of-life recyclability, this prototype demonstrates the transformative potential of technology in design. The parametric approach went beyond standard dimensional adjustments and considerations of modularity to focus on materiality itself. “When material properties change, they don’t just alter the size of components; they transform the entire form, including the structural system,” Rieck explains. This complexity required the creation of sophisticated parametric formulas that incorporated multiple variables to understand how material behaviors and interactions would come together to shape the final design.

Once the design parameters were set, LAVA fully automated the fabrication process. The team digitally generated components and fed them into a script that controlled a laser cutter, which then produced the required shapes from 3mm aluminum sheets. LAVA employed 2D laser cutting—a straightforward, widely used technology—and applied it in a novel way. “The process was simple,” says Rieck. “We cut two-dimensional pieces, which, when assembled, form a highly stable three-dimensional structure.” In contrast to traditional architecture, which often compensates for fabrication imperfections with intentional gaps and tolerances, this digital approach achieves precision cuts within a tenth of a millimeter, reducing material waste and optimizing the production process.

This forward-thinking production system allows for the creation of curved, freeform structures using planar aluminum sheets. Through the exploitation of their elastic bending capabilities, the pre-cut aluminum pieces can be manually positioned on-site, allowing for the creation of a dynamic form without the need for complicated construction methods. “We looked for a material that could be recycled and reintroduced into the production cycle,” continues Rieck. “Aluminum is ideal because it can be recycled and reused without losing quality.” The charging station is designed for easy assembly and disassembly, using custom parts and a patented connection system instead of welding. This makes it easier to take the station apart at the end of its life, helping to minimize waste by reusing its components.

Developed by LAVA in collaboration with a manufacturer, EIGHT Point.One demonstrates how simple materials and widely available manufacturing processes can be used to create double-curved façades of any shape. Scalable to meet specific client needs, the system adapts to different project sizes and car configurations easily. Though developed for solar charging stations, the manufacturing process is separate from the charging function, making it suitable for a variety of architectural applications. Like the Södra Future Tennis Center, which proposed using CNC milling to transform waste wood into a gridshell framework, EIGHT Point.One utilizes digital fabrication to create complex forms efficiently. LAVA refers to this approach as “simplexity,” where digital tools enable advanced outcomes through simple, cost-effective production methods.

Installed in front of BMW Welt in Munich—designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au—the charging station coincided with the launch of BMW’s e-mobility sector, reflecting through its form and content a new era of design, sustainability, and aesthetics. LAVA’s design engages with the ideas that cars represent: the promise of freedom and visions of a faster and better future while also addressing pressing issues of consumption. In this context, EIGHT Point.One symbolizes a shift towards smarter, more sustainable mobility—a reimagination of the future of transportation.