‘Melba 2011’ is CobaltNiche’s take on the design of Melbourne’s next generation tram; a modern interpretation of the classic W-Class tram.
A Melbourne Icon
According to Jack Magree co-director and leader of CobaltNiche’s transport design group “Trams are to Melbourne like the Opera House is to Sydney and it’d be unimaginable that the design of icons such as these would be left to chance”. However, the trend in transport design as in automotive and other industries is to rationalise models, where apart from minor local requirements and livery, the same rolling stock can be seen in cities as diverse as Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. Whilst there are obvious economies of scale to this approach, CobaltNiche believes that given the cultural and infrastructure importance of trams, not to mention the sheer size of Melbourne’s tram fleet, our new trams should be unique and relevant.
The original W-Class model had an extraordinarily long life and although phase out commenced in the 1970’s, there are still a handful of these models used for the City Circle tourist route. It remains the quintessential Melbourne tram, and examples of this classic both working and museum pieces are scattered throughout the world.
Beyond Retro
Although retro designs are currently in fashion, the ‘Melba 2011’ design carefully avoids being a simplistic caricature of the original. Rather, the aim was to project what the design of the Melbourne tram would be if there had been a continuous link from its launch in 1923 through to 2011. Therefore, the new tram had to embrace the latest technology, safety and comfort, just as the W-class designers had in their day.
Outcome
The ‘Melba 2011’ features a single, round front lamp, an external assymetrical route number plaque and three side lights. Unlike it’s older relative it features a low-height floor (for excellent disabled access) and large panoramic windows.
The project was also a great training and team-building exercise for the group; the idea taken from concept to form-model in only 3 weeks.