TCDD VIP WAGON

The VIP passenger carriage designed for TCDD is a concept project that unites the grandeur of the past with a contemporary architectural sensibility.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary journeys of the Orient Express, the design reinterprets this cultural heritage through a modern vocabulary, cultivating an atmosphere of refinement and timelessness.

The restricted dimensions of the carriage transform the project into an exercise in spatial concentration. Every centimeter is carefully orchestrated: a compact seating area, dining table, bedroom, bathroom, and a kitchenette concealed within cabinetry coalesce into a coherent spatial arrangement. A skylight running along the ceiling introduces not only natural light but also an unexpected sense of depth and openness, aiming to alleviate the challenges of long-distance travel.

Material and detail choices reinterpret local references through a contemporary lens. Wooden surfaces, finely crafted metal elements, and refined textiles act as primary agents in shaping the interior character. The result is a carriage conceived less as a transport vehicle than as a moving habitat.

Ultimately, the project proposes a luxurious typology of the “moving suite,” positioning travel itself as an experience rather than a means. Though it remained at the concept stage and was not realized, the design engages with the question of how mobility can be elevated into a spatial and cultural narrative.