The Trans-Siberian Railway traverses 9,289 km, running from Moscow to the Russian Far East. It is the longest railway in the world, going from Moscow to Vladivostok. Its nascence dates back to 1891 when Tsar Alexander III initiated its construction which was continued by his son Nicholas II until 1916. The railway crosses seven time zones, takes up to eight days to travel and runs through 10 major cities as it travels to Vladivostok. The railway's significance in the history of the many regions it touches is unparalleled, and its ability to connect the many populations throughout Siberia has had transformative effects throughout its history. Today the Trans-Siberian line remains a vital link throughout Siberia, it enables trade, economic growth and diversifies the communities that it touches. 

The vision for this new prototype is to be a reflection of Siberian cultures in motion, a response to the natural forces of the seasons and a future vision of transportation for all travelers. The significance of the Trans-Siberian Railway led us to envision a structure that captures bodies in motion through form, structure, and materiality. The structure is animated along the rail as its form lifts and sweeps over the enclosed space and composed of steel ribs that transition fluidly into the ground. The enclosure is made up of a thin membrane composite with solar cells imprinted as a pattern derived from the radiation analysis unique to each site. This solar composite membrane allows natural light to enter while also harnessing solar energy from the printed cells which produce an ever-shifting pattern on the ground.  The structural sections are organically transformed through optimization of their structural performance. The variability in the form, structure, and light, produces a transformative space that responds to the seasons from the inside and outside. As the structure transitions into the ground, the ribs are articulated to delineate the form of the canopy and wrap the enclosure through a series of rings defining a soft and hardscape. This figure-ground is meant to draw travelers as they look for shelter and guidance during their journeys across the Trans-Siberian Rail.