Japan's bullet trains are already much talked about. But now they're about to get a facelift that will send them even more into the future. Seibu Group has recently announced that the latest Limited Express train will be redesigned by Kazuyo Sejima in order to create something not only sleek and stylish, but also complimentary to its environment.
Meaning the bullet trains will meld into the environment. Spoon Tamago writes, "In contrast, Sejima has chosen keywords like "friendly" and "soft" to define her new vision for express trains in Japan. An initial rendering shows that a semi-reflective surface will cover the exterior of the train." The bullet trains are expected to be completed by 2018 and cost about 10 billion yen (about $90 million). Definitely an investment for the future.
Nature-Blending Bullet Trains
Japan to Launch Updated Transportation that Focuses on Environment
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Transportation - The trend of creating transportation that is beautiful and stylish, yet complimentary to the environment can be implemented globally creating an opportunity for business professionals to leverage disruptive innovation opportunities in transportation.
2. Sustainable Design - The trend of using sustainable and eco-friendly materials in transportation design can create an opportunity for business professionals to explore materials that can be used in other products.
3. Nature-inspired Design - The trend of designing transportation that is inspired by nature can influence and inspire other industries such as architecture and product design.
Industry Implications
1. Transportation - Business professionals in the transportation industry have the opportunity to adopt eco-friendly designs for their products to create more sustainable and aesthetically-pleasing modes of transportation.
2. Architecture - The trend towards designing transportation that melts into the environment can inspire architects to explore new ways of incorporating buildings and structures into their natural surroundings.
3. Product Design - The trend of designing transportation that is inspired by nature provides an opportunity for business professionals to create products that are aesthetically-pleasing and functional while also incorporating sustainable and eco-friendly materials.