Nendo and Arep revamp France's high-speed TGV train "from nose to seat"

Design studios Nendo and Arep have designed the latest generation of France's TGV train, introducing an "almost animal-like" nose and the red, white and blue colour scheme of the country's national flag.

The creative studios teamed up in 2018 to begin working on a vision for the fifth generation of the high-speed train, which encompasses everything from the train's nose shape to the interior fittings and furniture.

Now rebranded as the TGV Inoui, the new-look trains are based on French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom's Avelia family.

Japanese studio Nendo worked with Arep, a subsidiary of France's state-owned railway company SNCF, to reimagine the train "from nose to seat" using the train's sinuous aerodynamic shape as a guiding principle.

"The train looks like no other means of transport; it makes its way through the landscape, rather like the flow of a river," the design team explained.

"The concept thus plays with a fluid horizon line that runs through all the elements, giving a horizon, reinforcing the perspective and evoking the surface of the water."

The notion of fluidity is first encountered at the front of the train, which features a more aerodynamic nose for improved energy efficiency.

A long, black ellipse accentuates its shape and adds a characterful detail, giving the train an "almost animal-like appearance" according to the designers.

The bright white external paint colour, in contrast, was chosen to reduce energy consumption from cooling in the summer months.

Inside the train, a fluid horizon line extends across the upholstered seating, while soft shapes informed by water-polished pebbles recur in the forms of the seats and the playful lamps.

"The skyline is reflected in the use of colour, darker at the bottom and lighter above, with touches of sparkling yellow," the design team explained. "The overall effect is soft, serene and enveloping, with vibrant, playful details."

The redesigned customer experience focuses on comfort, with the gentle forms and cocooning seats creating what Arep called a "personal bubble of comfort in a shared space".

A co-design process involving conductors, drivers and cleaning staff helped to inform the interior layout, which is optimised for everyday usability.

The ergonomically designed seats are designed for easy cleaning and replacement, with over 90 per cent recyclable materials used in their fabrication.

The seats are covered with a 3D-knitted fabric that stretches over a lightweight structure and foam cushions, producing a "hammock-like" effect that adapts to various body shapes.

The new seats are slimmer than their predecessors, allowing for increased legroom and enhanced comfort. The modular design can also incorporate equipment such as charging sockets and lighting.

To tie in with the TGV Inoui's overall rebranding, the internal palette utilises the red, white and blue colours of France's tricolour flag with the first and second-class carriages distinguished by their use of red or blue upholstery and carpeting.

A key feature of the cabins are the table lamps designed by Nendo and Arep as an update on light fittings found in previous TGV trains. The lamp's rounded form echoes the seats and its bright-yellow hue provides a punchy highlight.

As part of the project, the designers conceived a new look for the TGV's dining car, which is now called Le Bistro TGV Inoui. Set over two floors connected by an open staircase, the bistro aims to provide a welcoming and straightforward dining experience.

The downstairs level contains self-service fridges and payment terminals, with bay windows providing plenty of daylight and views of the passing scenery.

The mezzanine dining area features 28 seats organised as small booths, with the same soft shapes found in the main carriages helping to create a comfortable and inviting lounge space.

The TGV's interior is designed to endure for several decades. It includes materials and fittings that can be easily cleaned and replaced if needed, with 97 per cent of all materials used being recyclable.

The TGV Inoui design concept was unveiled earlier this month at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris, with the new trains expected to be in service from 2026.

Nendo was founded in 2002 by designer Oki Sato and has developed a reputation for its innovative projects that often combine minimalist aesthetics with unexpected features or functionality.

The prolific firm works across a wide range of project scales, from soap dispensers that look like milk cartons to an archive for its own products in central Japan, made from stacked concrete tunnels.

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