Denmark / 2021
Interior,Product,Experience
Alstom Train
Balancing contemporary needs and cultural identity, the aim was to ‘future-proof’ the trains through timeless design; adopting simple forms and using high quality materials. Offering a holistic experience, the Train of the Future incorporates hospitality concepts and wellbeing into the train travel tomorrow. Developed in collaboration with French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom for DSB, the train is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2024.
project overview
| Location | Denmark |
| Year | 2021 |
| Status | On track in 2024 |
| Client | Alstom Transportation SA |
| Creative Director | Johannes Torpe |
|
Senior Architect / Project Leader | Suguru Kobayashi |
| Design Team | Magdalena Kotfis, Allan Kruse, Thomas Needham, Francesco Minussi, Daniel Larsson, Silvia Brile, Venla Rautajoki |
| Services | Interior, exterior livery, lighting, and seat design concept |
| Materials | Wool textile, leather, laminated wood, painted aluminum, self-healing laminate |
| Suppliers | Kvadrat, KTK, Sorensen Leather, Formica, Alpi |
| Photo Credits | Alstom, Johannes Torpe Studios |
design concept
Designing a train with a lifespan of 20-30 years, functionality and aesthetic appeal must be long-lasting while avoiding becoming worn out or going out of style. Solving this challenge demanded attention to detail, clear vision, and good collaborations; and so over a two-year period cooperating with the Design and Styling team at Alstom, and during thousands of hours of intense work, JTS created a timeless design, adopting simple forms, and high-quality materials, ensuring easy to maintain fixtures and fittings.
A dense transportation market sees users demand more than simply moving from A to B. Providing an experience along with a means of transportation is crucial, resulting in rail transport exceedingly becoming part of the hospitality market. This correlates with the Danish societal values of welfare and social responsibility, moving towards a user-centric, holistic travel experience for many different types of users. This was pertinent to our vision of the Train of the Future, positioning DSB as not just a transportation company, but a “Lifestyle Activist.”
“To reflect Danish culture, vision and needs, we collaborated with one of the brightest Danish design agencies: Johannes Torpe Studios, to imagine a train for Denmark, a train that future generations can be proud of.”
design concept
Since the seats are the essential equipment of all train journeys, we have brought special attention to every detail of the seating design. Combining natural materials and craftsmanship with an elegant combination of practicality and sophistication, the seating design pays tribute to the Danish design tradition and heritage.
The seating uses natural materials like wood, leather and wool, which were developed especially for the Train of the Future in close collaboration with Danish textile company Kvadrat, ensuring quality and durability. State-of-the-art upholstery offers support and the sofa-style seat ensures comfort for all passengers on both shorter and longer journeys.
The flexible headrest accommodates both travellers who are seeking privacy on their commute, as well as friends and family wishing to connect and face one another naturally.
