taxi cabs are an essential part of every city?s transportation system. however the design of taxis remains

essential unchanged since the first motorized cars began driving people to their destination at the end of the

19th century. we are beginning to rethink transportation systems to cope with new issues such as urban

planning, growing populations and the environment. included in this discussion is the design of the taxi.

what will the taxi of tomorrow be like? what will it look like and how will it help us to deal with these

issues? these questions and more are being answered by designers and engineers creating their vision for

the taxi of the future. this article features examples of taxi designs that travel by land, sea and air taking

riders to their destination in new an unusual ways.

minimodal by hybrid product design

the minimodal is a taxi design concept designed specifically for the city of new york. the vehicle features a

very unusual design that is small and light and uses a hybrid-power system. the two-person passenger cab is

low to the ground and features side windows and a fully open skylight. the driver sits in front of an all glass

front end and on top of the hybrid engine. the car would also have a signaling system that would let other

drivers know when a passenger was coming out to avoid collisions. the designers at hybrid product design

also envisioned two larger versions of the taxi to accommodate more passengers. the maximodal would seat

3 and a wheelchair and the mogulmodal would seat four plus a wheelchair.

http://hybridny.com

taxi tokyo

the taxi tokyo is a design concept created by norwegian designer eva marit toftum. the taxi concept is

designed to respond to the increasing amount of vehicle on the road. the new taxi would feature a driving

cab, towing a series of passenger cars behind. the system would work by having the passenger units spread

throughout the city. passengers would get into the units and set their destination. the driving unit would

come by and pick their car up along with a number of others and take each person to their destination.

the design minimizes the number of vehicles on the road, sharing load by bundling the cars together.

while traveling may take longer, the effect of reducing taxis on the roads would speed up traffic as a whole.

http://www.evatoftum.com

hummel air taxi

if you need to arrive at your destination really fast, than flying there may be the best mode of transportation.

the hummel is a two passenger helicopter concept by german designer daniel kocyba. the lightweight

copter is ideal for zipping around thanks to its tandem rotor concept that ensures efficient performance with

less fuel waste. the hummel also has an unusual folding design that allows it to compact for easy storage

and land in tight spaces. it could also be used for medical transportation or monitoring services like the

coast guard.

http://www.danielkocyba.com

robot taxis

if you aren?t a fan of rude taxi drivers with blaring radios, then the robot taxi may come as a relief. this taxi

concept by designer petr kubik does away with the driver all together, replacing them with a computer

operated vehicle. the robot taxis can seat two passengers with hand luggage and are ideally suited for large

cities filled with congestion. to use them, kubik suggests, a rider would call the operator, who would

dispatch a taxi to their location. once inside, the rider would enter their destination into the on-board

computer and voila. kubik believes that his design could travel at speeds up to 90 km/h and run for 20

hours using two electric motors.

http://www.kubikdesign.cz

jetpod

while the hummel helicptor is intended for transportation at sea or in rural areas, the avcen jetpod is actually

meant for flying in urban centers. the small aircraft boasts two jet engines and newly developed technology

that allows it to take off and land in short distances with minimal noise. the plane could make many trips in

one day, significantly reducing travel times and street congestion. while tiny, the plane can hold up to seven

passengers, six travelers pluus the pilot. avcen plans to have the jetpod ready very soon and foresees them

flying in major cities all over the globe.

http://avcen.com

kia rondo taxi

kia created their vision for the future of taxis cabs using a modified version of their rondo design. the cab

is smaller than standard taxis and more efficient. collaborating with smart design antenna design and

birsel + seck, kia prototyped two taxi designs. special attention was paid to the roof mounted sign, clearly

signalling the taxi?s availability. the team also focused on designing the driver?s environment protecting

them with a partition. they kept the passenger seat and back open to create social environment for

passengers.

http://www.kia.com

mx-libris taxi

alberto villarreal is the designer of the mx-libris taxi concept created for latin america. the vehicle is intended

to be a zero-emission taxi with an iconic urban-style form. the design uses fuel cells and a drive-by-wire

steering system to optimize the interior space of the taxi. the cabin is asymmetrical to promote interaction

between the passengers sitting in a bank of three seats at the back and one facing the rear. villarreal wanted

to make the taxi something unique to latin america, demonstrating an aesthetic not found in commercial

automobiles. the design won a red dot award for its imaginative concept.

http://www.zanicdesign.com

taxi concept for mazda

designer ernesto rodriguez designed this futuristic taxi concept for mazda. the taxi features and  unusual

seating arrangement that places the driver facing forward and the passengers diagonally facing the side.

the driver has their own cockpit that is enclosed from the rear and is equipped with a translation system to

understand passengers who don?t speak their language, like tourists. the rear accommodates wheelchairs

thanks to a bridge that draws out onto the curb. rodriguez also created a cashless payment system that

would also be equipped with common destinations.

http://www.valuesofgray.com

naro taxi

prodrive is the maker of the naro car concept. the small four-wheel design has the width of a motorcycle

and holds two passengers in its enclosed body shell. while the vehicle is designed for commuters, prodrive

also envisions using the concept for single passenger taxis. since most taxi users ride solo, this concept

would allows users to get to their destination while taking up less room on the road and lower vehicle

emissions. prodrive has already tested the design and hope to have them on the streets in the near future.

http://www.prodrive.com

ford transit connect

ford launched their own specially designed taxi concept at the 2008 new york auto show. the new vehicle is

designed for taxi fleets in cities like new york and boasts a 30% efficiency improvement over existing taxis.

the new taxis will also feature an information and entertainment unit that shows the fare cost along with

news and navigation info on a touch screen display. ford plans on launching the product in europe first and

later bringing it to north america.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect

new taxi

iranian designer mohammad ghezel imagined his own taxi concept that holds six passengers. the design sits

on four wheels and features a separate driver?s cab and passenger cab. the driver has an ample space to

navigate the roads and the rear features sliding doors on both sides to allow passengers to easily get in and

out. the back features two row of three seats facing each other  with ample leg rooms. the driver sits higher

than the passengers and has sliding windows to cope with climate extremes. the concept would use an

electric engine and reach speeds up to 180 km/h.

http://ceegeelover.multiply.com

water taxi concept

instead of flying through the air, some cities could also transport people across the water. this water taxi

concept is the creation of dutch designers studio thijssen. the designers developed the idea for the city of

antwerp, where the city?s canals could be used for transportation. the wanted to develop a unique form that

would give antwerp a symbol like the buses of london or the gondolas of venice. the design features an

enclosed passenger bubble suspended above two long pontoons. the driver sits behind the passengers,

raised above them to see ahead. the design is intended for use in tourist travel rather than daily commuting.

http://www.studio-thijssen.com

mv-1

planned for launch in  2010, the mv-1 is a taxi designed by incorporating the principles of universal design.

as such, the mv-1 is suitable for paratransit, consumers and taxi fleets. it is capable of carrying 2 passengers

in wheel chairs and up to 6 total passengers. its roomy cab offers a car like feel and the rear door opens to

reveal a ramp for easy access. in addition to its universal design features, the taxi is also able to run on

compressed natural gas, holding extra tanks in the rear.  this green option allows the mv-1 to become a

clean option with a driving range of 250 miles.

http://www.vpgautos.com

solar taxi

louis palmer buckled into a solar powered taxi in 2007. since then he has been traveling the world in the

vehicle, giving rides to people wherever he goes. palmer is aiming to be the first person to travel around the

world in a solar powered car. the vehicle was developed as joint venture between four swiss universities.

the vehicle was the official taxi at the 2007 world climate change conference in bali, taxing delegates

around to demonstrate the green alternative. the vehicle has a small 2-person front cab with three wheels

and tows a large flat panel covered in photovoltaic cells behind.

http://www.solartaxi.com

new york taxi by pentagram

the iconic checker cab from new york city was the inspiration for pentagram?s taxi concept. their new

design uses a similar iconic silhouette to recall the classic symbol of the big apple. the taxi design would

feature a folding rear-facing passenger seat up front and a bank of three seats in the rear. the driver?s cockpit

would be ergonomically designed to make their work environment more comfortable and easier to use.

passenger sitting in the back would also be able to enjoy the city sights thanks to a wide open skylight.

http://www.pentagram.com

citycab

this new taxi design was developed by students at helsiki polytechnic and the university of art and design

helsinki. the design came from a passenger survey and features seating for five passengers and the option

for one passenger using a wheelchair. the taxi uses a hybrid engine, and a special suspension system that

lowers the car to curb height when needed. the vehicle was also made more efficient with a lighter frame

and carbon fibre body that is 75% lighter than a steel one. the students also focused on making the driver?s

seat very ergonomic and integrating many essential features. the citycab was turned into a functional test

vehicle to drive in real situations

http://www.metropolia.fi

eric owen moss architects create a mixed use tower that neighbours the capitol building in almaty,

kazakhstan. the republic square is part of a large-scale development across the city of almaty. the tower

itself is 126,000 square feet that will be divided up between retail, office, hotel and residential spaces.

the building is a long tower which is anchored to the ground by a 38 meter diameter spiral. this feature

will enclose an indoor plaza or ?winter garden? connecting the two sides. the spiral provides major

support for the structure and encapsulates the five public venues near the ground level. in between these

five spaces, four courtyards let natural let in and are each shaped to represent the four seasons of the year.

http://www.ericowenmoss.com

see the designboom snapshot report

salone satellite - the world?s pre eminent showcase for young designers returned this year

in collaboration with the salone internazionale del mobile, euroluce and the international

furnishing accessories exhibition, at the milan fairgrounds, held from april 22nd - 27th, 2009.

wellness was a theme for the 12th edition of the fair. an abstract idea that becomes

a concrete emotion:
the wellness of the body, mind and soul. in other words, feeling

healthy and whole when sitting, reclining, standing, moving, whether by ourselves or

with others, thanks in significant part to the objects that surround us. the organizers

aimed to convey a message to all of the 702 young designers and the 22 international

design schools from 14 countries as well as to all the visitors participating in the salone

satellite, that this theme can create a better world. all the designers were given the option

to bring an additional project that addressed the theme of  ‘designing wellness’.

our snapshot report of the event is now online and will continue to be updated in the
weeks to come.

‘Ö’ jewerly cases made with bone china by mark braun

image © designboom

‘brick habitats’ by chooi-leng tan

image © designboom

’soba’ chair by dunja weber

image © designboom

‘paddle’ chair by sadmare

image © designboom

modular table and chair by the central academy of fine arts

image © designboom

‘the ping pong door’ by tobias franzel

image © designboom

‘the man with no shadow’ by makoto tojiki

image © designboom

‘optone coila’ by tsutomu mutoh

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

‘annie MG schimdt house’ competition proposal by NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

amsterdam city council recently held the’adaptive reuse design competition’

for two former sewage treatment silos in the city’s zeeburg district. the

competition was named the annie MG schimdt house honoring the dutch writer.

for the competition NL architects proposed silos dedicated to climbing,

sports and culture. in their design the existing structures were extended to

the maximum height to benefit from the views.

the cultural silo consists of two theaters with dressing rooms and rehearsal

spaces, spaces for workshops, exhibition spaces, music studios and a space

for hair design. a bridge connects the silos at the height of the original

roof level and office spaces will be positioned on top. the top level will

be dedicated to a restaurant with 360 views and a roof terrace.

using the cylinder of the silo as a basis they created a 40 meter high artificial

cave that consists of challenging cantilevers and overhangs for climbers.

since climbing walls essentially are oblique, a section can allow for an increase

in space between the inside and outside, allowing useable floor areas on a higher

level. on the level above is a hotel, training facilities and a square that can be used in

multiple ways. on the ground level is a public cafe, connected to the climbing tower

through a hole in the floor above it and is surrounded by the boulder area.

climbing grips will be placed on the outside of the silo too. the exterior as

such becomes part of the ‘program’ climbers will activate the facade. by pushing

the silo wall from the inside several swellings form on the outside; these bulges

create more challenging routes

‘annie MG schimdt house’ competition proposal by NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

‘annie MG schimdt house’ competition proposal by NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

‘annie MG schimdt house’ competition proposal by NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

facade allows for outdoor climbing

image courtesy NL architects

‘annie MG schimdt house’ competition proposal by NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo

image courtesy NL architects

climbing silo, overhangs

image courtesy NL architects

side elevations of silo

image courtesy NL architects

cultural silo

image courtesy NL architects

cultural silo

image courtesy NL architects

floor plans of silos

image courtesy NL architects

floor plans of silos

image courtesy NL architects

floor plans of silos

image courtesy NL architects

floor plans of silos

image courtesy NL architects

location of silos

image courtesy NL architects

the original zeeburg silos, two are only part of the competition, the third has been converted into an office space

image courtesy NL architects 

craft is an area of design production that designers often turn to in the early stages of their careers.
the performances aim to be a celebration of tenacious creative expression, unruly experimentation,
and brilliantly low-tech design processes. a selection of young international designers
worked onsite with traditional handcraft methods to create nonconformist, cutting-edge objects,
installations, and encounters.

the word ‘punk’ is here used out of its original meaning. the curators used this expression as a

description of attitude and spirit; as it suggests fearless defiance in the face of adversity;

individuality despite pressure to conform; the drive and inspiration to make something from nothing;

finding beauty in things that are imperfect and asserting one?s voice despite restricted opportunities.

the show included kwangho lee, massimiliano adami nacho carbonell, peter marigold, raw-edges,

sarah becker, simon hasan, studio glithero, studio libertiny and yuri suzuki + household.

the designers received a briefing - the use of discarded materials from the fendi production

process, such as selleria leather, branded fabrics, plastic decorative elements, and metal

hardware and to reinvent the way a process or material is typically employed.

craft punk design performances is a collaboration between design miami/

and fendi, the italian LVMH-owned luxury fashion goods brand.

it took place during the milan salone del mobile 2009 in the 750 sqm. spazio fendi showroom.

simon hasan: ‘beauty and the boiled beast’ performance

simon hasan

portrait © designboom

through an ongoing exploration into the medieval technique of ‘cuir bouilli’,

in which leather is boiled to make it irreversibly hard

image © designboom

simon hasan embraces the material’s capacity to be both decorative and structural.

he boils leather, wrapped on wooden forms, adds resin and car paint.

image © designboom

see the designboon snapshot report

nacho carbonell: ‘beasts’ performance

nacho carbonell

portrait © designboom

nacho carbonell uses only a stapler and basic moulding skills to fashion his creatures out

of fendi leather straps

image © designboom

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

kwangho lee: ‘obsession’ performance

kwangho lee

portrait © designboom

with hands toiling obsessively, kwangho lee creates lounge chairs out of gardening hoses

image © designboom

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

peter marigold: ‘qow’ performance

peter marigold

portrait © designboom

image © designboom

using leather straps from fendi production, marigold creates patterned tabletops in which

the complimentary internal angles of a bisected square are matched up and tessellated

together to form uniform plates.

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

raw- edges: ‘pleated pleat’ performance

yael mer and shay alkalay of raw edges studio

portrait © designboom

borrowing a technique used in fashion production, raw edges folds and re-folds DuPont ? Tyvek ® sheets

to create a series of plush seats.

the method of pleating allows the flat, non elastic material to become a springy, three dimensional cushion

when filled with soft polyurethane foam.

image © designboom

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

sarah becker: ‘rebuild’ performance

sarah becker

portrait © designboom

through compulsive handwork, transforming discarded materials and found objects, sarah becker

re-creates brand logos and an iconic imaginary brand alphabet

image © designboom

glamorously layered and textured fashion accessories

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

massimiliano adami: ‘fossilizziamo’ performance

massimiliano adami

portrait © designboom

assorted found objects, fendi plastic mannequins,… are drowned in foam

image © designboom

once hardened, the foam is sectioned to reveal colorful and surprising fragments

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

studio glithero: ‘brief moment of happiness’

sarah van gameren and tim simpson of studio glithero

portrait © designboom

white ceramic vases, which through exposure to light, slowly become vivid prussian blue.

the blueprint technique creates silhouettes of (dried) flowers and elastic rubber bands resting

on the surfaces.

image © designboom

working with hazardous chemicals

image © designboom

see the designboom snapshot report

studio libertiny: ‘the weldgrown void’ performance

(on the right) tomás babzdil libertiny with collaborator

portrait © designboom

the hollow object results from the buildup of stainless steel weld solder in a continuous layers on a turntable

image © designboom

fusing-, welding- and clay turning

image © designboom

see the designboon snapshot report

yuri suzuki & household: ‘animatic’

(on the right) yuri suzuki with collaborator

portrait © designboom

a series of animated machines comes to life in a chain reaction and creates a narrative for the song.

image © designboom

image © designboom

this performance featured ‘memphis tennessee’, a silicon teens cover of the classic track by chuck berry.

see the designboom snapshot report

and
the full coverage

?oasis?

guerra de la paz is the collective name for artists alain guerra and neraldo de la paz, two cuban

artists living in miami. the two create sculptural works and photographs which run the gamut from

textile assemblages to action figure portraits. their textile work is all made from unwanted clothing

that is assembled into abstract colour and form based works as well as literal forms such as

people and landscapes. from these discarded pieces they create vivid pieces which explore

material culture in contemporary society. other works include the g.i. joe portraits which recreate

iconic works of art such as the pieta and the last supper.

http://www.guerradelapaz.com

?last supper?

?family?

?family ? husband and wife? & ?family ? grandpa & grandma?

?raising the bar?

?pieta?

ciclus is a spanish studio who design packaging and corporate gifts with sustainability in mind.

one of their recent projects is this ‘eco champagne packaging’ that transforms into a lamp.

another beverage related design is the ‘bakus table mat’  a stainless steel tray allows

you to hook corks into place and create a hot plate.

eco champagne packaging / lamp

eco champagne packaging / lamp

bakus table mat

bakus table mat

ciclus: http://www.ciclus.com

—

via lovelypackage

?ajeto urns?, 2008

swedish designer matti klenell has spent much of 2008 working on design projects in glass. the designer

has produced all varieties of furniture from seating to lighting, but these two glass project demonstrate

his skills in limited addition decorative wares. ?still life? and ?ajeto urns? were both made at the ajeto

glassworks studio in the czech republic. they were made and exhibited for the inger molin gallery

in stockholm.

http://www.mattiklenell.com

?ajeto urns?, 2008

?ajeto urns?, 2008

?still life?, 2008

?still life?, 2008

‘dupli casa’

located near the neckar river, germany is the ‘dupli casa’. the private residence was

designed by german architect jurgen mayer. the space age like building consists of

three storeys and is made from concrete. inspired by the previous dwelling ‘dupli casa’

uses smooth forms to connect the inside to the outside.

the swiss design studio ZMIK was commissioned to redesign the design boutique sevensisters in basel.

their redesign took advantage of the shop?s small size by using a single piece of display furniture. the 9m

long table/shelf has 10 separate volumes balanced on shared sets of legs. the shop?s collection of design

gifts are displayed on the various levels of the unit. the top of each unit can also be opened to make room

for different arrangements. the array of yellow tape at the entrance is intended to attract visitors? attention.

the shop re-opened on september 10th.

http://www.zmik.ch

‘coming out: ZMIK prototypes’

‘arch/scapes’ swiss architecture in sao paulo