03
2024
Context
METU ID 402, transportation design studio
Role
Research, exterior and interior design, UI elements, mockups
Team
With S. Farid Mirdamadi, Zeelaf Siraj and Raziye Zalgi
Ankara’s metro struggles with overcrowding, inadequate accessibility, uncomfortable interiors and outdated technology. GAIA 6 reimagines the M3 and M6 lines as one train designed around its commuters, from the nose of the vehicle to the handrails.
How Might We
How might we reimagine Ankara's metro as a transformative experience that blends the city's rich cultural heritage with innovative design, creating an inclusive, sensory and forward-thinking journey for its diverse commuters?
Research
Riding the metro with a notebook
Field observation and in-depth interviews on the existing line surfaced concrete failures: unclear entry and exit signs, unmarked pathways, no space for luggage at the doors, insufficient seating, missing sound cues and no designated bicycle areas. The insights pointed at four needs: better air quality, more handheld support throughout the train, improved surveillance and more seating to absorb the crowds.
Field observation · User interviews
Benchmark
Learning from metros elsewhere
Metro systems from Riyadh to the Siemens Velaro Novo served as references for the exterior and the interior, while photos from the existing line documented exactly what had to change.
Personas
Three commuters to design for
Hamit and Zehra, a retired couple who ride once or twice a week and value safety, comfort and accessible navigation over technology. Rüya, a 19 year old student on the metro up to six times a week, who wants quiet spaces, reliability and safety at night. And a young family with a stroller, who simply need more space and amenities for their children. Every later decision was tested against these three.
Exploration
Sketching the train, inside and out
Dozens of nose shapes and window bands were sketched before color trials. The interior was drawn element by element: 360 degree rotating handrails carrying picture cards of Ankara, leaning areas, foldable seats and dedicated storage.
Final Design
A continuous train with a clear face
The front carries a clear LED panel that shows the upcoming station and gives passengers a forward view. A continuous window arrangement runs the length of the train so riders always see outside.
Layout
Wagon layouts that manage the crowd
Wagons 1 and 4 carry 48 seats, 3 leaning areas, 12 foldable seats and a wheelchair area for up to 260 passengers. Wagons 2 and 3 trade seats for 9 foldable ones and a bicycle area. Passenger flow arrows shaped every aisle.
Accessibility
Designed for the hardest journey first
Wheelchair areas, stroller space, marked floor pathways and priority signage answer the accessibility gaps found in research, checked against the personas storyboard by storyboard.
UI Elements
Screens that speak for the train
Front screens announce the vehicle number, route and upcoming stations. Interior screens show crowd density per wagon and door countdowns, and ambient panels between wagons abstract Ankara's weather into animated art.
Mockups
Cardboard and paint before final CAD
Scale mockups of the wagons and the nose were built by hand to check proportions, seat spacing and sightlines. Usage scenarios were then drawn over the model for seating, standing, wheelchair and disability areas before the team committed to final renders.
Technicals
Engineering the vision
Exterior dimensions at 1:60, interior component drawings and a sustainability-driven materials table: aluminium alloy body panels, recycled polycarbonate seat frames, piezoelectric handrails that harvest energy from the crowd, and LED lighting throughout.
Max passengers, wagons 1 and 4
Seats per end wagon
Foldable seats per end wagon
Technical drawing scale