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Anaerobic Airships: A New Paradigm, Turning yesterdays unsold food into tomorrows travel

Part 2 Project 2013
Pritpal Chana
Katie Hope
Emma Smith
 University of Liverpool | UK
In December 2012, the number of international tourists reached one billion for the first time in history. By 2050, this figure is set to reach 16 billion having profound effects on how, why and where we travel. With rapidly depleting resources and little proof of viable alternatives, the current budget airline culture dominating the aviation industry is not sustainable.

Set amidst the current climate-change crisis, our thesis proposes a new urban intervention of city center airship terminals, allowing low-carbon airships powered by unsold food waste to carry passengers and cargo into the heart of urban areas. We also challenge the experience of current air travel, fully integrating the industrial process as part of the overall visitor experience.

Architecturally, the design is derived from the characteristics of airships. The form and orientation provide shelter for airships while they dock but also allow take off into the wind. Mirroring the engineering of airships themselves, the terminals are vast in scale yet structurally lightweight and environmentally reactive.

Our vision extends from the here and now: could this really be the future of air travel? Our vision suggests airship terminals could become an integrated part of urban centers, an extension of existing public transport networks and the gateway for future proof sustainable air travel.


Tutor(s)
Mr Jack Dunne
2013
A future vision: Kings Cross Airship Hub, 2050
Terminal One, 2015. Pedestrian approach along Regents Canal showing low-carbon passenger monorail and cargo facility.
Concept image introducing the problem – rapidly increasing international travel, limited resources, soaring fuel prices and an unaccountable carbon footprint left by the aviation industry. This is a global issue that needs to be addressed.
Our vision for Europe 2015 – a sustainable low-carbon airship network connecting the five busiest airport hub cities in Europe.
Our proposal – turning yesterday’s unsold supermarket food waste into tomorrow’s air travel.
Could this be the future of Kings Cross / St Pancras?
Form development
The site masterplan to the right and the approach to the terminals via St Pancras and the public viewing gallery to the left.
Pedestrian approach to Terminal One from Kings Cross showing the public viewing gallery (left) and the anaerobic digesters.
Hand sketched perspective section to the right and selected plans on the left.
Departure lounge - showing views of cargo lift to the right and digesters to the left.
Cargo is off-loaded from the canal below and winched through the centre of the podium before loading onto waiting airships above providing low-carbon, high-load transportation.
Our vision 2050 – a global sustainable low-carbon airship network that connects all of the major cities in the world.
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