Respire.

Prototype 2
Prototype 1

Inspiration

As students, the London Underground is our main form of transportation. In such an enclosed space it is prone to being polluted. According to TFL, the dust in the underground is made up of “metal particles such as iron oxide, organic matter like skin and hair and mineral dusts”. In order to improve the air quality in the London underground, we were inspired to create a purifier which filters air and improves the aesthetic of tube trains.

The tree-like design was inspired by eco spaces that integrate nature into urban environments, such as vertical gardens, living walls, and urban forests. These spaces use greenery to enhance air quality, promote sustainability and create calming, natural atmospheres. Similarly, this design brings elements of nature into the train by mimicking tree canopies and air-purifying plants. It combines biophilic design principles with air filtration, turning the ceiling into an ecofriendly, visually engaging space that promotes both health and environmental awareness.

What it does

Respire. uses filtration techniques such as magnetic filtration and HEPA filtration to reduce harmful nanoparticles in the London Underground. The air circulates through branch-like tubes and is distributed throughout the carriages. The branched nature-like design creates a calming aura within the tube which encourages people to use the tube more rather than cars.

Challenges we ran into

We had an issue related to how we were going to implement the product into the current design of trains. We found out that the door at the front of each carriage is used as an emergency exit for passengers inside each carriage We overcame the challenge by adapting our design to be split into 2 parts where the air funnel is outside the window and the filters are located on the inside edge. As well as being able to open the door without damaging our product, this feature also makes it very easy to disconnect and replace the filters when necessary.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Our solution was driven by the user-centered design in making tube travel more enjoyable and comfortable for the passenger, thus encouraging a higher proportion of the public to choose trains over cars, decreasing our carbon footprint as a city. The use of biomimicry in the design adds both functionality and beauty to the London underground in a subtle way without distracting from the classic aesthetic of the London Underground brand. I love how the team worked together.

What's next for Respire.

Further development to make more interactive and interesting elements to not only get people on the train more comfortable, but to engage with each other to create a more positive experience. Once we get feedback from our product, it would be interesting to analyse the data for the air quality at difference points/stations on the line.