Peter Saville consults on interactive bus shelter in Manchester

A new interactive, digital bus shelter design is being piloted in Manchester, and the project has been supported by Peter Saville.

The “super shelter” at Piccadilly Paton Street bus stop allows people to charge their phones, use free wi-fi and access live travel information and news via digital touchscreens.

The £300,000 pilot scheme has been funded by the Department for Transport, and created by France-based architectural studio Aurel Design Urbain, with support by designer Peter Saville.

Saville is best known for co-founding Manchester’s Factory Records, and recently created graphics for the new Tate Modern.

Alongside its digital elements, the bus shelter also aims to be “more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable”, says the funders, with a wider roof to protect from rain, a dark wood interior ceiling, and a exterior roof with plants on to “contribute to a greener city”.

Andrew Fender, chair at the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, says: “Research indicates that improved public transport environments – with technology built in –encourage more people to use them and that’s what we’re testing out here.

“One of our key aims is to provide an improved public transport network that encourages more people to choose sustainable and more environmentally friendly ways to travel.”

The department also hopes the use of digital advertising will help to generate revenue which will go towards improving more public transport services.

It is not yet clear if the digital bus shelter will be rolling out more widely in Manchester and the UK.