Air Taxi Voloport, Prototype, Singapore

Urban Metamorphosis

The German air taxi company Volocopter has developed the first fully electronic, autonomous vertical take-off vehicle, an ideal solution for use in urban areas. Together with GRAFT and Arup, the Berlin agency GRAFT Brandlab won the competition to design a modular vertiport concept for Volocopter.

Why is this project characteristically "German"?

GRAFT is responsible for ensuring that the design quality we have defined for the VoloPort system can be produced globally under a wide range of conditions. As a German architectural office with international expertise, we were commissioned by Volocopter to implement and ensure the “Made in Germany” standard of quality in cooperation with local partners. This applies both to the planning and implementation processes at each different location.

AIR TAXI VOLOPORT, PROTOTYPE, SINGAPORE — © Raphael Olivier

"After winning the competition for the VoloPort in 2018 together with GRAFT Brandlab and Arup, we had to plan a prototype of the VoloPort for the 2019 Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress in Singapore in a very short time. What was realized in three months as a temporary pavilion has since developed into a highly complex, fully functional vertiport that meets all technical, structural, and operational requirements as well as international air traffic standards."

— GRAFT

The Volo-Port concept combines lounge, security and departure areas with a hydraulic landing platform that enables sheltered boarding of the Volocopter vehicles. The result is a flowing space that carefully orchestrates passenger experience and contributes to promoting acceptance of three-dimensional passenger transport. Depending on the specific context, air taxis will depart from the Volo-Port’s roof or an adjacent landing platform.

The modular nature of Volo-Ports enables a seamless integration of this new form of transport into the existing urban infrastructure. Potential implementation scenarios include railway stations, airports and unused roof surfaces, as well as floating Volo-Ports mounted on pontoons—utilizing the free air corridors over rivers and other water surfaces. With their new Volo-Port concept, Volocopter is making an important step towards a new airborne form of urban mobility based on electric energy.