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NBBJ architect designs a better double-decker for London

Chandegra's Routemaster, from the Standard
The UK’s Evening Standard had a story today on an NBBJ architect’s vision for “the 21st century Routemaster,” that iconic red double-decker bus you’ve probably seen on postcards, in Austin Powers movies, and maybe even on the bustling streets of modern London.

Paresh Chandegra’s design is not your mum’s double-decker, though. The curvier, shinier model includes onboard digital navigation screens for passengers, and, while it includes the “hop-on hop-off feature of the old Routemaster” at the rear, the front has sliding doors.

Chandegra’s design is one of 225 entered in a competition for a revamped Routemaster launched by London Mayor Boris Johnson. The winner could be announced next month.

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This entry was posted by Shawna Gamache on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 at 9:32 am and is filed under Architecture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

  • Ashley Iskandar

    Umm, I’m not really sure that this is a serious design.. Do have a look at a design that was featured in the papers before this one- google ‘E21 routemaster evening standard’, designed by German designer Michael Kerz.

  • Shawna Gamache

    Link to the design Ashley references here. That design, also a contender in the competition, has solar panels and a sun roof and is electric. Not sure that it makes the other entry less “serious,” but it is a seriously cool design.

    Ashley, part of our interest in the previous design is that NBBJ is known locally because it’s headquartered in Seattle.

  • Pretesh Gurjar

    I’ve seen the previous design and although they are fancy but to a certain degree they aren’t realistic. How expensive will it be to have extremely strong sheets of glass on the roof so that the stability of the bus is not compromised. Also the cost of maintain the tops of the bus will be higher. Plus, all you will be able to see throught the glass are bits of pigeon crap splat… hardly a sight to look at.

  • linda

    gorgeous design! will look great sat next to a London taxi at the traffic lights.

    I have just googled the E21 – it is vile, it looks like a cross between a snow-plough and a boring red double-decker coach. Being a Londoner I would be embarrased to see these on the streets. the glass roof is a rubbish idea – as someone else has mentioned, it will just get covered in bird poo.

  • Ashley Iskandar

    Hi Shawna,
    Thx for letting us know that the NBBJ is headquarted in Seattle- now I know why the article came out in this paper. :O)
    If we look objectively at all the entries, I guess that they all have their strong points. My own view is that the e21 uses good, clean technology, & should be taken seriously. Sir Norman Foster’s design also uses a glass roof, but he doesn’t get much criticism for it, bcos of who he is. Mr Kerz design will also use insulated glass against heat or cold, & with 800 of these buses planned, costs will be kept down.
    And what about these complaints about bird shit on the roof..? Aren’t there bus depots where buses are cleaned, just like a car wash..?
    The purpose of the roof is to let us appreciate London’s achitecture, which is magnificent. Dare to dream..!
    Also, did anyone realise that the bus will be run WITHOUT an engine, cos it’s the WHEELS that are charged electrically, using Hi-Pa Drive technology..? Look at http://www.hipadrive.com/phev.html
    May the best winner wins..!