URBAN TRANSPORT
JASON POMEROY, ARCHITECT: FOUNDING PRINCIPAL, POMEROY STUDIO
Redefining air rights in the sky above existing buildings to allow for the passage of urban air vehicles will be a key area of focus in the next few years. Since 2019, when Volocopter first tested their pilotless drone over Marina Bay, Pomeroy Studio and Mott MacDonald have been developing a playbook for urban air vehicles to navigate cities and land safely at terminals around the city.
This technology will revolutionise urban transportation, reshaping our ability to move with ease through dense urban habitats. Every era has had a major technological shift in mobility, like the transition from horse-drawn carriages to trams and automobiles, then the advent of mass rapid transportation systems, and motorways finding their footing in 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. We’re now looking beyond the surface to shift our focus to the skies, which will transform how we conceive our tall buildings and the urban corridors that once existed on the ground. These will increasingly be defined by the circulatory zones for urban air taxis. Think of Blade Runner, think of The Fifth Element — that is going to be the reality.
I don’t foresee this disrupting the centuries-old trend of rural to urban migration in search of power and prosperity. The concept of cities as centres of wealth has held for millennia, with over 50 percent of the global population residing in city centres since 2007, and this is projected to rise to 75 percent by 2050. Even in the face of challenges like the COVID pandemic, cities remain resilient. As cities grow, there’s a pressing need for better transportation to avoid congestion. The urban air taxi will complement existing transport systems, rather than replacing them. It won’t replace hydrogen buses, electric taxis, or other personal rapid transportation devices. It’s an additional tool for urban mobility.
As for who stands to gain and who might face challenges or become obsolete because of this development, that’s an intriguing question. Consider companies involved in rubber tire production. As cleaner alternatives emerge for transportation, products like rubber and palm oil will be challenged due to their environmental impact. The shift towards cleaner, more sustainable options is a positive one.
While some may argue that air taxis are a privilege, similar to how the automobile was in the early 20th century,
