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For pure whimsy the ethereal Titania designs of Alex Padwa would have few equals. Although he says he is fascinated by the graphic language of automotive design, with its slick, colourful renderings, he feels he has to talk with his pen through Felix Topolski-like illustration. His imaginative visualizations have been realized into three dimensions with his scale model of the single-seater three-wheeler which he calls Sharav- the Hebrew equivalent of the Arabic Khamsin -a hot desert wind. In building this model he has progressed through the usual packaging stage taking in the practical concerns of seating, instrumentation and controls. Power from a small ceramic gas turbine mounted low beneath the pilot's seat is transmitted hydraulically to the two rear wheels via the long trailing arms of the active-ride suspension. Pivoting the bodywork to lean into bends against the roll is an attempt to obtain the sensation of a solo motorcycle and overcome the tendency of three-wheelers to lift the inside wheel. Bar-type steering linked to the cantilevered front wheel would have powered control, the limited turning circle allow speeds being improved at higher speed by the body's inclination. Padwa's concern with what he calls "pure form" is obviously influenced by his training as an industrial designer. His use of fluid and asymmetrical shapes portray the excitement he feels for speed and movement and this shows through in his project, even when stationary. He has worked for Citroen's advanced styling studio in Paris, whose originality he greatly admires, and will probably return there, although he reckons that the RCA course has the broadest influence available anywhere and only wishes he could continue working in London. |
