In December 2008, architects Foster + Partners with car manufacturers Aston Martin won joint first prize in Transport for London’s competition to design a new Routemaster bus for the capital. The two iconic British brands worked together to challenge preconceptions of bus design with a vehicle that is environmentally sensitive, accessible, convivial and reinvents a much-loved symbol of London for the modern era.
The £25,000 first prize was jointly awarded to Aston Martin and Foster + Partners, and bus, coach and truck design company Capoco Design.
Runners up included Héctor Serrano Studio in the UK, and Miñarro García and Javier Esteban from Spain with their design ‘Welcome Back’, and Jamie Martin from the UK with a design called ‘The London Navigator’.
The winning designs and ideas will be developed into final designs by bus manufacturers. The first prototype of the new bus will be on the streets of London in 2011.
The competition, run by Transport for London, received around 700 entries. Winners are divided into two categories- ‘design’ and ‘imagine’, which included also entries from children.
Description of entry
‘Two emblematic British brands– Aston Martin and Foster + Partners– worked together to challenge preconceptions of bus design. Gathering first-hand research and canvassing passengers, drivers and conductors, the team worked from the inside– out.
Designed in response to the needs of its users, the new bus is zero emissions ready, accessible for all and will set new standards for sustainable vehicles. The bus will reinvent a much-loved London icon for a new era and re-establish the city as a world leader in the design of public transport.’
Read more about the competition entries and the winning companies: www.london.gov.uk.
The following is the statement from Foster + Partners website:
‘Designed in collaboration with Aston Martin in response to Transport for London’s competition to design a new bus for the capital, the joint first prize winning design challenges preconceptions with a vehicle that is environmentally sensitive, accessible and reinvents a much-loved symbol of London for the modern era. After an intense period of research which included canvassing opinion from passengers, drivers and conductors, the team worked to design a new bus from the inside-out. In doing so, consideration was given to a wide range of issues including layout, use of materials, motive power, passenger experience and the impact of the bus on the environment of the city.
The bus is designed to navigate the dense and varied streets of London, employing innovative technologies to allow for greater manoeuvrability and energy conservation. Optimising safety, the driver’s cabin provides panoramic views as well as incorporating screens to supervise CCTV images and radio communications with the on-board conductor. Much like a car or a building, the design evolved in response to the needs of its users. The layout, lighting and wooden floors are conceived to encourage a spirit of warmth and community. The arrangement of the decks is driven by comfort and particular consideration is given to the selection of reconstituted leather upholstery to create a tactile ‘living room’ feel, especially in the saloon-like lower deck.
The new bus is zero emissions ready, accessible for all and will set new standards for sustainable public service vehicles. Passengers benefit from views from the top of the deck through a glazed roof which incorporates solar cells to absorb sunlight and generate energy. By filtering daylight the internal temperature is well controlled. The bus design re-introduces the rear open access platform that made London’s Routemaster bus so popular up until its withdrawal from general service. This is supplemented by a side door to facilitate access for those with impaired mobility as well as families with young children.’
Not sure I can wait until 2011 to see the new concept bus. From the artist renditions, I really like the sleek look and open feel to the bus. The funny thing about it is that it is being designed by Aston-Martin. I usually think of James Bond and not buses when I hear that name. Maybe the bus will have hidden rocket launchers or ejector seats?