The design recently made its global debut at City Walk Dubai as part of UAE Innovation Month. This is the first time a physical, full-scale hyperloop prototype has been shown to a broad public audience.
The design was the result of a collaboration with Virgin Hyperloop One and the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai.
Once built, the passenger capsule, electromagnetically propelled through a vacuum tube, could reach speeds up to 1,080kph, potentially traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in as little as 12 minutes.
At present, Virgin Hyperloop One is negotiating the next stage of development with the Dubai authority to build the world’s first hyperloop transportation system in the UAE/Middle East.
“With the Virgin Hyperloop One design, we wanted to create a new visual expression for a new mode of public transportation” says Designworks LA Studio Design Director, Johannes Lampela.
The central challenge the Designworks team faced was how to create a comfortable and engaging interior with no windows, and a current requirement for passengers to be seated throughout the journey.
Designworks sought to create a sense of individualised space for each passenger. In first class, for example, adjustable leather seats feature touchscreens for personal settings for light brightness and colour, allowing passengers to shift the light from blue to pink to set the mood.
The seats include integrated heating and cooling. Passengers could enjoy personalised entertainment through built-in displays. In this way, the concept could create a more sophisticated and user-centered spatial experience. Floor lighting is also used to double as wayfinding.
To localised the design, inspirations from traditional Arabic patterns were used while also applying a more futuristic and progressive interpretation.
