The Future of Flying in Africa

Future of Flying

While Africa’s population expands rapidly, the continent’s infrastructure remains underdeveloped, hampering the delivery of goods and services. A possible solution is on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale—vaulted drone ports. The domed structures built of a brick/tile hybrid combine traditional materials and forms with high-tech substances. Renderings show the lightweight buildings flowing over the landscape. The vaulted shape relies on compression for stability, the walls carrying all the weight. Using local materials and inexpensive to build, the ports respect the environment by offering a low carbon footprint. Delivery drones could carry medical and other supplies quickly and at low cost where overland transport is problematic.