Paul Priestman on Future-Proofing Transport Design
Paul Priestman of PriestmanGoode examines what's in store for transport design
Words by Paul Priestman.
Transport design is about more than functionality. In a world increasingly aware of the importance of sustainable practices, design must embrace two key principles: the need for longevity and to promote a change in behaviour.
These principles are at the heart of PriestmanGoode's philosophy and underpin our specialised work in transport design, be it trains, aircraft or entirely new transport infrastructure concepts. Our primary concern is to create transport systems that will stand the test of time - decades, not years - and as far as possible are proofed against the perceived challenges of the future. I believe, we've got to 'get the grit out of the system' and make what we've got work better through design and technology.
Immense challenges are on the horizon. In 1900, 10 per cent of the world's population lived in cities. In 2007, the number had reached 50 percent. By 2030, 60 per cent of us will be city dwellers, growing to 75 per cent by 2050. Enlightened city leaders are actively exploring how to tackle these challenges and create the infrastructure necessary to stay competitive in the decades to come.
Take London, for example, where the population is forecast to reach 10 million by 2030. We've been helping the London Underground to respond to growing demand through a new train design that will improve both the capacity of the network and the commuter experience. As through-trains, they are free of doored divisions, offering more occupiable space. Exterior doors will be double-doors, aiding faster boarding and alighting. As the trains age, the internal modular system will allow components to be replaced with ease if damaged or to be updated. These smart design features will ensure each train will live a long life and continue to be an attractive transport solution.
Designing a central transport system that works more effectively is only one half of the task. In countries worldwide, major cities are disconnected from each other as well as regional hubs, making rail ineffectual for long distance. The introduction of high speed services is vastly improving this situation, however journeys are still disrupted by the need to alight at an interchange station in order to board an onward service. Our team has been working on a concept for fast trains capable of connecting while in motion in order to allow passengers to transfer between them - we call this concept 'Moving Platforms'. By reducing journey time, rail will become an efficient alternative to travel by car or plane.
Air travel will undoubtedly increase in the future, as will fuel prices, necessitating the need for designs that improve efficiency. Many airlines are exploring lightweight materials, components that can be easily replaced if an aircraft is rebranded as well as the use of electric vehicles to taxi an aircraft to the runway, thereby delaying the need to start the plane's engines and burn precious fuel.
What is difficult to predict, but certain to change, is the use of personal vehicles. Encouraging people out of their cars is a critical challenge for the future, but the leap does not need to be as drastic as abandoning the car altogether. Electrification is already transforming the consumer market and helping to decarbonise our towns and cities. This theme is front and centre of the DHL Blue Sky Transport Design competition, which I am judging.
Undeniably, we are designing in challenging and changing times - and if we think about mass transportation solutions we must remember our role in developing sustainable solutions. As Pedro Gustavo, Mayor of Bogata, summed up: 'a developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's a place where the rich use public transportation.'
About the author
Paul Priestman is the co-founding director of PriestmanGoode, a design consultancy specialising in the transport sector. He has built a reputation for his award-winning future concepts and has been voted one of London's 1000 most influential people by the Evening Standard. Paul is chair of judges at the Submissions for the DHL Blue Sky Transportation Design Award. The competition is open until April 27, 2015, with the designs to be evaluated based on criteria including their originality, functionality, aesthetics, commercial feasibility and potential to solve the problems they are intended to address. A shortlist of five designers will then be invited to the FIA Formula E Championship race in Berlin, Germany on May 30, 2015, to present their concepts to the jury. The winning design will then be announced to coincide with the final Formula E race in London 2015.
