Architectural Cases

Second White, a South Korean design studio, has introduced the VtoV 2000, a visionary electric scooter proposal initially presented to Hyundai. This concept moves beyond merely creating a new product, instead focusing on how electric kickboards can evolve into a more reliable and secure element of future city transportation. It addresses the growing need for personal mobility solutions that are not only efficient but also harmoniously integrated into urban ecosystems, mitigating current challenges associated with their widespread use. The studio's approach underscores a commitment to fostering a more responsible and interconnected urban travel experience, suggesting a path for these compact vehicles to become indispensable within diverse transport systems.

Electric scooters have gained significant traction as a solution for 'last-mile' travel, offering an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional vehicles for shorter distances. However, their rapid proliferation has brought about unintended consequences, including an increase in accidents, ambiguous road-sharing customs, and streets cluttered with carelessly abandoned scooters. These issues highlight a critical need for re-evaluation in how these personal electric vehicles are designed and managed within urban landscapes. The VtoV 2000 concept aims to tackle these emerging problems head-on, seeking to elevate the electric scooter from a simple convenience to a thoughtfully integrated element of city life that prioritizes safety, order, and overall urban harmony.

Transforming Urban Personal Mobility

The VtoV 2000 concept reimagines the electric scooter not as an isolated consumer item, but as an integral part of a broader urban mobility framework. Second White emphasizes that for electric kickboards to genuinely contribute to alleviating traffic congestion, reducing urban pollution, and seamlessly connecting various public and private transportation modes, advancements in usability and safety are paramount. This holistic perspective moves beyond individual convenience, focusing instead on how these vehicles can responsibly coexist with pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, fostering a more ordered and dependable urban environment. The design thinking behind VtoV 2000 suggests a future where electric scooters are purposeful, integrated, and less prone to disrupting public spaces.

Second White's conceptualization for VtoV 2000 is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of urban transportation challenges. Rather than merely innovating the vehicle's aesthetics or performance, the studio delves into its societal implications, striving for a design that addresses the negative externalities often associated with electric scooter use. This involves a thoughtful consideration of how these personal mobility devices interact with existing urban infrastructure and diverse user groups. The aim is to create a more mature and integrated role for electric scooters, ensuring they serve as reliable and respected modes of transport rather than sources of inconvenience or hazard. The VtoV 2000 proposes a paradigm shift, from an unregulated, individualistic transport solution to a carefully planned and responsible component of the city's circulatory system.

Second White's Essentialist Design Philosophy

The VtoV 2000 project is a clear embodiment of Second White's overarching design ethos, encapsulated by their slogan, 'Only the Essentials.' This philosophy guides the agency in its work across product and graphic design, prompting a search for fundamental value amidst the complexity of modern industrial production, which often bombards us with a constant flow of information, rapid technological changes, and standardized offerings. By cutting through the superfluous, Second White strives to create designs that are not only functional but also deeply meaningful and impactful, addressing core needs rather than superficial trends. This essentialist approach ensures that every design solution is deliberate, focused, and ultimately more effective in its intended context.

In applying its 'Only the Essentials' philosophy to the VtoV 2000, Second White prioritizes design thinking, user experience, and the emotional connection between individuals and their tools, rather than relying solely on large datasets and algorithmic insights. This human-centered approach is crucial for an everyday vehicle like the electric scooter, whose long-term success hinges not just on its electric propulsion, but also on its ability to be effortlessly usable, safely shareable, and genuinely integrated into the fabric of urban living. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a simple mode of transport into a vital, harmonious component of contemporary city life, making it safer and more intuitive for everyone.

The urban landscape of Chihuahua, Mexico, recently welcomed an innovative addition: the PASO NARA temporary pavilion. This structure, a testament to forward-thinking design and environmental responsiveness, emerged from the collaborative efforts of students and faculty at the Instituto Superior de Arquitectura y Diseño (ISAD). Its primary function is to offer a shaded haven in the perpetually active Plaza de Armas, a central hub for pedestrians in the city.

Chihuahua's Plaza de Armas Embraces Innovative Timber Pavilion

In the vibrant heart of Chihuahua, Mexico, specifically at the intersection of Avenida Independencia and Calle Victoria within the historic Plaza de Armas, a striking temporary structure known as PASO NARA has taken its place. This visionary project, conceptualized and realized by students of the Instituto Superior de Arquitectura y Diseño (ISAD) as part of their 2026 Taller del Desierto educational program, addresses a critical urban need: providing sanctuary from the sun along one of the city's most frequented pedestrian arteries. The pavilion's distinctive conical shape and gracefully curved timber exterior differentiate it from the surrounding open plaza, creating an inviting shaded interior. A strategically placed opening at its apex frames the sky, drawing the gaze upwards and fostering a profound connection between the enclosed space and its vibrant urban surroundings.

Drawing inspiration from the traditional Rarámuri skirts, the pavilion's design ingeniously reinterprets their environmental benefits rather than merely mimicking their visual form. Its base broadens to maximize the shaded area, while the top narrows to concentrate natural light and beautifully frame the sky. The timber surface features a captivating color gradient, echoing the natural shifts in hue observed across the Chihuahua desert during the mesmerizing periods of sunrise and sunset. Crafted entirely from flexible plywood panels, the enclosure forms a continuous, lightweight shell. This construction not only allows for dynamic variations in light, shadow, and surface appearance throughout the day but also accentuates the pavilion's sculptural quality.

The structural integrity of PASO NARA is upheld by mechanical timber joints, utilizing gravity, compression, and wooden wedges, thereby minimizing the reliance on conventional metal fasteners. Each component was precisely digitally fabricated using three-axis CNC milling, directly from digital models. This advanced manufacturing process ensured that the plywood elements were produced with the exact precision required for seamless assembly, eliminating the need for on-site adjustments. Designed for prefabrication and easy demountability, PASO NARA can be efficiently assembled, disassembled, transported, and reconstructed in diverse settings. This project effectively showcases how digitally fabricated timber systems can be adapted to various contexts, leveraging widely accessible manufacturing technologies to deliver sustainable and versatile architectural solutions.

This innovative endeavor serves as a poignant reminder of architecture's capacity to transcend mere functionality, offering both a practical solution to urban comfort and a culturally resonant aesthetic. It encourages us to consider how temporary installations can enrich public spaces, providing moments of quiet reflection amidst the urban bustle, while also promoting sustainable construction practices and a deeper connection to local heritage.