British architects have unveiled a concept for a unique vertiport that will provide air taxi services for residents and visitors in Dubai, UAE.
Vertiport is a new term in the transportation industry. It refers to airports designed for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The terminal will feature a sweeping, overhanging roof. According to the project’s creators, this design will shield passengers from the scorching Dubai sun.
A Revolution in Transportation Infrastructure
This vertiport is the first of its kind initiated by Skyports Infrastructure in the megacity, a company specializing in advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies. Together with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, the company plans to develop an entire network of vertiports for air taxi services by 2026.
Currently, plans are in place for the first four terminals. They will meet the demand for rapid flights across the city using electric air taxis. This zero-emission transport will whisk passengers to their desired locations at high speeds, including popular tourist attractions.
The first vertiport will be located near Dubai International Airport, a metro station, and other transport hubs, as reported by Dezeen. This means the new facility will be seamlessly integrated into the urban transportation system, ensuring smooth travel for both international and domestic passengers, noted David Summerfield, head of the Foster + Partners studio. He expressed excitement about how the vertiport will fundamentally change the way people move around Dubai.
What Will the Air Taxi Terminal Look Like?
The British architectural studio has shared a visualization of the vertiport project online. The futuristic-looking terminal will span a large rectangular platform. Through its transparent panoramic walls, passengers will be able to enjoy views of the airfield and the picturesque Dubai landscapes.
For the interior of the vertiport, designers have chosen muted warm colors and natural materials. The building’s decor aims to create a “comfortable and carefree environment,” the architects stated on their studio’s website.
The terminal’s perimeter will be adorned with lush greenery.
Currently, this design is considered the closest to realization. However, the professionals at Foster + Partners are not the only ones working on projects that are transforming urban transportation infrastructure. In 2020, the German air taxi company Lilium released a guide for designing modular helicopters that could land on the rooftops of office buildings, parking lots, or shopping centers.
The architectural firm MVRDV from the Netherlands is also engaged in designing vertiports. The firm is collaborating with aerospace company Airbus to explore how landing hubs for passenger drones or helicopters can be adapted to future urban transport networks.