UBER TRANSPORT FLIES SKY HIGH
09 Jul 2019
Flying vehicles may seem like a dream of the distant future, but that future might not be too far away as Uber announces plans to create skyports that offer affordable aerial ridesharing by 2023! Featuring in cities across America, the skyports will take a giant leap for mankind as they offer the world’s first airborne taxi service to the public.
Uber unveiled designs for the skyports at its annual Uber Elevate Summit on 11 June 2019. Partnering with leading companies in the architecture, design and engineering industries, Uber envisions a future where a network of skyports will handle up to 1000 landings from Uber Air Vehicles every 60 minutes.
Multiple concepts have been unveiled for structures in Los Angeles, Dallas, Santa Clara and Melbourne (Florida).
For Dallas, Corgan Architecture & Design firm has proposed Connect | Evolved, a system of modular, customisable components that can be constructing to meet the demands for urban air mobility, the needs of the site, and the budget. It can be a multipurpose space that includes restaurant, retail and co-working spaces.
The Beck Group envisions the Dallas Skyport to be situated on top of an existing parking lot. “A critical part of the success of creating an aerial ridesharing ecosystem involves using existing infrastructure and adding modular ‘plug and play’ element,” said the firm. “The undulating cloud structure, elevator enclosure and sky lounge can be manufactured at the Beck Group-affiliated, offsite manufacturing and fabrication company factory, Blue.
“Our design is in part inspired by prefabricated components that can be shipped directly to a project site, offering a real-world, design-build solution that will one day bring this innovative concept to life.”
SHoP Architects has proposed a complex for Los Angeles, dubbed Arc. “To celebrate Uber’s vision of our shared transportation future, we shaped the architecture around the experience of boarding and takeoff, that bold first step into the future of urban flight,” said Shannon Han, project director at SHoP Architects. “Whether it’s the first time or the fiftieth, walking on to the pad, under the arc of the wing-like roof, each rider’s experience will be dramatically heightened. The balance of the design is intended to effortlessly support the immediacy of that moment.”
Mithun envisions the concept of a Skypark that “elevates the urban transportation experience, enriching lives at the personal, neighbourhood and community scales” by incorporating green and public space into the scheme.
“By raising EVTOL functions, the greenlight hub, e-bike and e-scooter maintenance and charging spaces above grade, a new urban park with restorative landscape and active street life is created at the ground level,” the firm explained. “The park and its trees absorb noise, filter pollution and mitigate urban heat island effect while providing vibrant recreation and social spaces for the community.”
Sky Loft by Pickard Chilton and Arup for Melbourne sees an elegant design that creates a seamless user experience.
“The proposed initial network includes the retrofit of an existing parking structure and the design of a bespoke greenfield solution. The Sky Loft’s design creates a compelling and seamless user experience while delivering an elegant and high-performance building,” said Pickard Chilton Architects. “The sky loft is distinguished by its extensive use of a highly sustainable mass timber structure – easily sourced, renewable and manufactured off-site – to offset tons of carbon while featuring the beauty of natural wood.
“The design was driven by our team’s common aspirations to deliver a structure that positively contributes to the built environment while stewarding the natural environment. Sky loft program areas include a skyport lounge, uber greenlight hub, an operations facility for jump bike and scooter sharing, and retail. On-site transit options include uber ride-sharing, jump bike and scooter rental, and uber air service; additionally, the sky loft is located a short walk from other public transit options.”
BOKA Powell Architects’ uber skyport mobility hub connects all of the company’s vehicles under one roof with a mobility hub that “celebrates humanity’s evolving experience-driven society by designing fluidity and transparency into the process of air travel re-imagined”.
Humphreys & Partners Architects considered concepts that fit modern technology and developments and can be adaptable to shifting trends. Its concept, Volary, focuses on a design that can be easily replicated and creates a multipurpose space.
Cityscape by Gensler features shopping and dining in addition to the skyport. “The team created two concepts that share a common kit of parts: a retrofit to existing buildings and a bespoke ground-up solution cityspace is a community destination and connection point that welcomes people at the beginning or end of their journey, while dramatically reducing parking impact on the city.
“This design solution becomes a pivotal piece of the urban fabric, binding the neighbourhood together with a central place to shop, dine, and engage while reducing congestion across the city.”
Foster + Partners revealed plans for a skyport to be constructed as part of a new mixed development in Santa Clara and would form part of the new housing and commercial precinct. It would be located along a major trafficway that links to the central highway of the new neighbourhood. The port would feature a flight deck that can charge up to five EVTOL aircraft units at one time, and an expansive landing and take-off area, with enough space to allow for multiple flight operations at one.