Location: Shenzhen, China.

Architect: PLP.

SkyPod is a research project that aims to revolutionize urban mobility by creating a three-dimensional transportation system that is on-demand, ultra-responsive, and point-to-point. Unlike traditional elevators, SkyPod uses a track that can tip, turn, and twist to climb on the outer surface of buildings, allowing for unprecedented architectural forms. The movement of SkyPod is always gentle, and the floor is always horizontal, using the same dynamic digital stabilization systems of high-speed trains. The propulsion system is a linear induction motor system similar to that used by roller coasters and Maglev trains. SkyPod leverages the advances in autonomous vehicles and extends them vertically to create a fully-integrated digital and physical infrastructure that prioritizes privacy and experience. The project aims to liberate vertical transport from the central core to the exterior of the building, opening up opportunities for new types of buildings that are holistically integrated with the grain of the city around them. The elevator has been a primary influence on the shape and appearance of the modern city to date, and SkyPod believes that its inevitable demise will be the catalyst for the next chapter in the formal life of the city.

Photo credit: All images credited PLP Architecture..