I saw my first functioning paternoster lift in Prague this weekend and was fascinated. We don't have these in America because the lawsuits would be prohibitive, but the design is amazing. The lift runs in a continuous loop, there are no doors and the users just jump on and off at their desired floor. If you miss your floor, you can stay on and ride it all around the loop and try again. In the Czech Republic, they call this "going over the top".
The Czech people that I was with in Prague thought I was a total weirdo. Here they are showing me beautiful old castles, churches, etc. and I am just taking pictures of their elevator!
It is very cool
Gustavo. Picture in your mind a big rectangle. Open compartments travel up the right side, straight across the top, down the left side and straight across the bottom and back around the loop again. It never stops running. You don't push any buttons or anything. It just keeps running and you jump on or off.
If you go on Wikipedia, they give a list of which countries still have functioning paternosters. Like I said, there are none in America because the lawsuits would be outrageous.
We have the same in our old...
We have the same in our old university building in Slovakia. And although I was quite scared of it when I was a child (i couldn't imagine what happens to you if you forget to get off) it's quite useful. But if there are too many students waiting in a row (cause usually no more than 2 people get in) i rather take stairs..
they are fascinating no?
lots of them on you tube...
This one is a bit theatrical.
Beautifully built.
(can't find the one posted on an architectural forum where i first saw these)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-jmVUyNoTg&feature=related
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com