amsterdam to frankfurt in 53 minutes? UNStudio unveils hyperloop 'stations of the future'

architecture firm UNStudio has partnered with hardt, a european technology company, to present a vision for the ‘station of the future’.

architecture firm UNStudio has partnered with hardt, a european technology company, to present a vision for the ‘station of the future’. the plans would see hyperloop used to provide transport between amsterdam and frankfurt in just 53 minutes. ‘the hyperloop is not only a realistic and viable alternative to flying, it is going to revolutionize travel,’ says ben van berkel, principal architect and founder of UNStudio. ‘it will provide extremely fast travel times with direct connections between cities, enabling completely new ways of working and spending our leisure time, which in turn will lead to a multitude of economic, environmental and knowledge exchange benefits.’

the plans were presented in utrecht at the first edition of HyperSummit, an event that focused on the possibility of realizing the european hyperloop. developed as a sustainable alternative to air travel, hyperloop uses technology powered by solar panels and can provide the necessary energy to power itself. it intends to be the first ever 100% electric transport system that can safely transport a high volume of passengers from city to city at unprecedented speeds and journey times.

UNStudio’s futures team was invited to join the hardt hyperloop implementation program to help integrate the system in cities and towns of different sizes, and in different locations within these cities. in response, the firm drew up plans for the hyperloop transfer hub — a station that has been envisioned as a series of tessellating components which can adapt to a range of possible contexts: city-center, edge of city, or adjoining an existing infrastructure hub, such as an airport.

the modular network would comprise both a super-high-speed network and more regional networks, which will connect urban areas and important hubs (such as ports and airports) to the ultra-high-speed network. inside the station, platforms are curved rather than orthogonal, while the configuration means that each module can hold a different function — from the luggage check-in or bicycle dock, to daycare for parents or small pocket parks.

the architects believe that hyperloop stations could function as batteries for solar energy, potentially bringing about a shift away from dependency on centralized power plants and towards energy storage that connects to local micro-grids. ‘in the very near future, buildings will function as batteries, providing energy not only for their own immediate needs, but also for surrounding public amenities and transportation modes,’ ben van berkel explains.

the speed of the system — 600-1,000 kph, or 370-620 mph — also allows fresh food, or even medicine, to be transported to urban centers, while stock could be replenished much more quickly. the design team also says that the network could result in a network of mobile learning spaces, which connect various institutions. it is imagined that workplaces will also coalesce around hyperloop stations, as hubs become natural meeting spaces for busy workers.

research has showed that a potential hyperloop journey between amsterdam and frankfurt could take just over 50 minutes, significantly less time than by train or plane. the route, which measures 450 kilometers or 280 miles, could carry more than 48 million passengers each year. it is estimated that the hyperloop would offer a sustainable alternative for the approximately 2 million aircraft passengers on an annual basis, saving 83,690 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

the hyperloop system uses electric propulsion to accelerate a passenger or cargo vehicle through a tube in a low pressure environment. an autonomous vehicle levitates above the track and glides at faster-than-airline speeds over long distances. after coming up with the idea, elon musk open-sourced hyperloop technology, encouraging others to develop real-world solutions. consequently, several companies have been formed, each seeking to build a functioning system. read more on designboom here.