Gdansk University of Technology students with honourable award in the international architecture competition-Hyperloop Desert Campus | Gdańsk University of Technology

Gdansk University of Technology students with an honourable mention in the international Hyperloop Desert Campus architecture competition.

Students from the Faculty of Architecture comprising: Julita Banaszak, Jakub Kruk, Jerzy Sroka, received an honourable mention in the international competition "Hyperloop Desert Campus" organised by Young Architects Competition.

About the competition:

The competition task was to create a development centre for the Hyperloop project in the Mojave Desert (Nevada, USA). The means of transport of tomorrow, which is to revolutionise communication, needs a research centre as spectacular as the Hyperloop idea itself. The proposed facilities were to be a manifesto that shows the momentum of the ambitious plans, becoming a showcase for the future. A place where visitors coming from every region of the world can witness the progress of work on the modern railway.

Jury:

Ben van Berkel [UN Studio], Winy Maas [MVRDV], Paolo Cresci [ARUP], Kazuyo Sejima [SANNA], Fedele Canosa [Mecanoo Architekten], Linna Choi [OUALALOU + CHOI], Chad Oppenheim [ Oppenheim Architecture + Design], Italo Rota [Studio Italo Rota], Hasan Çalışlar [Erginouğlu & Çalişlar Architects], Nicola Scaranaro [Foster + partners].

About Hyperloop technology:

The idea behind the technology is to create a magnetic railway that, by minimising friction and air resistance, allows speeds previously impossible for railways. The reduction of friction is possible thanks to the use of tunnels to move the railway, in which vacuum conditions prevail. The project is being developed by eccentric tech tycoon Elon Musk

Description from the authors:

Hyperloop is modern and still prototype means of transport funded by Elon Musk, its main goal is to provide communication as fast as air transport however at the price of standard road transport.

The competition sought possible directions for the development of a modern research centre for Hyperloop technology. The facility is located in the Mojave Desert in the state of Nevada, near Las Vegas. This desolate and hostile environment presents an opportunity to design an iconic building that could set the course for Hyperloop-related architecture. Despite the lack of context, the building has been integrated into the plot as accurately as possible, appropriately referencing the surrounding mountain range on many levels, while giving the impression of an alien monolith appearing in the desert.

The mass is divided into two parts, inspired by the erosion of the rocks in the area. In the gap between the parts is a dry garden with native species, the only form of vegetation found in the area, which serves as an entrance area and also improves the water management of the building. The volumes are connected to each other by a connector. The entire building has been designed in such a way that a tour showing the laboratory workers at work can be conducted freely and without interference.

The shell of the building is a modular curtain wall, consisting of photovoltaic panels and self-shading windows to facilitate work in adverse climatic conditions. On the top floor, in addition to a viewing terrace, there is also a special coating that allows water to be recovered from the environment, water that is then used in the building.