ULTra - 172 Architects

Competition Entry: 172 Architects

Designers: Mark Alston and Rebecca Lee
Company/Institution: 172Architects
Location: Macclesfield, UK

The full entry can be downloaded as a zip file via the following link:

172 Architects (4mb)

Sample text and images from the entry are given below.

Infrastructure Design

Judges' marks & comments

Originality, Sustainability & Innovation :	58%
Feasibility & Functionality :	43%
Aesthetics :	35%

"The track design is elegantly simple."

"This combines a very heavy looking vehicle with a track so slender it does not look realistic"

"Concerned about passenger safety: how would people disembark if the vehicle stopped over the water?"

"Very space age looking."

High level Movement Patterns

The introduction of high level PRT movement patterns gives flexibility and reduced impact upon the public realm streets and infrastructure. However the impact of a guide way and the gradual ramp access could create and be a focus of activity for unwanted public access, giving control issues to the movement flow of the system.

Our proposal would give this high level desired movement pattern by a rail system giving a duel movement function to the Ultra Vehicles. This system is used today for Vehicles repairing and installing new tracks to our railway networks. This flexibility gives control as the narrower footprint of each rail greatly reduces unwanted public access to the network system. The reduction in width gives the opportunity for openness to the sky, increased daylight to the streets below and the much reduced imprint upon a historic city + key public spaces enabling the integration of the network as an infused element into our city pattern.

Sample images

Vehicle Design

Judges' marks & comments

Originality, Sustainability & Innovation :	78%
Feasibility & Functionality :	50%
Aesthetics :	65%

"Bird's nest design very attractive, but not Bath"

“Interesting design although the glazing bars in the vehicle seem very thick and obstruct views out. Passengers also look inwards, which is a shame in such a beautiful city.”

"Complex engineering. Only design that mentions precedent studies eg Washington; Heathrow. Futuristic in design. No connection to Bath vernacular”

Engineering Ergonomic Psychology

The internal form is a reflection and expression upon the human body. The orientation of the passengers has focused on moving the seating positions over the wheels to lower the centre of gravity giving a smoother travel journey and ability to increase speed + reduce travel times.

ULTra Vehicles calling

Positioned thought-out the city would be simple column call points - where commuters could see the availability of a PRT vehicle near their location and expected arrive time for their journey begin. This flexible approach is responsive to the needs of an individual user or group needing to travel. This information point could give further information on travel destinations.