37 Times Elevators Surprised People With Genius Design Solutions
Elevators are generally an under-used design space, with the vast majority of them retaining a functional, box-and-button style that offer little in the way of visual appeal. Luckily however, there are some who recognize the potential of this little room-on-the-move, and get as creative with the humble elevator as they would with any other space!
We here at Bored Panda celebrate these out-of-the-box thinkers, and have compiled a list of the coolest, craziest and cleverest elevators out there. From aquariums and shuffle buttons to scary floor designs, this list is sure to uplift you! Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and don't forget to upvote your favorites!
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The Elevator Ride At The World Trade Center Tour Shows You The Architectural History Of New York
I know! You took the words right out of my mouth.
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I am the one afraid of heights and elevators but last year I took my mom to NYC and it was a no to the freedom tower. The next month I took my husband and he didn’t want to go up. This elevator would terrify me but I would still go up. I have video of me going up the WTC south tower elevator and you can see the fear on my face!
Congratulations on overcoming your fears. I know it was scary. I'm also afraid of heights, as well as a lot of other things. But now you have this awesome memory of putting yourself in this amazing situation and of seeing this fantastic view. And maybe in the future, you will put yourself in another amazing situation and overcome other fears. You never know, you might develop a taste for adventure. : ) Good Luck!!! : )
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Look how they ruined a beautiful landscape with way too many ugly buildings. I've never understood why NYC was allowed to become so massively overbuilt and overcrowded.
Wow! It would be so cool if every city had the tallest building there do this too!
Too bad we didn't have this kind of technology (Google Earth) 100 years ago. I would have loved to see what the world looked like back then.
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Kinda reminds me of the ending of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when they go into the glass elevator.
I took this elevator a long time ago, took us to the 107th floor. It is a memory I will never forget as it was the Feb before 9/11
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this must be a very old footage... :(
That's because the gif is only a few seconds short. If you google it, you will find the entire video, including what I believe is the south tower, since your point of view is the other tower. Really shouldn't have to explain this
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Aquarium Elevator In Berlin, Germany
This Elevator With An Additional Alarm Button Near The Ground In Case You Can’t Get Up
This Elevator Sign
This Elevator Has Buttons You Can Kick
Came Across One Of The Most Fun Elevators I've Ever Seen
This Centre For Long Term Ill Elders Redesigned Their Elevators To Create Less Anxiety And Avoid Patients Running Away
My Hotel In Odessa (Ukraine) Tells You Which Day It Is By Changing The Elevator Carpet Every Day
A lot of cruise ships do this - vacation makes it hard to remember. That, or all the little drinks with umbrellas....
The Colorful Button Panel On The Elevators Of Our Children’s Hospital
I bet that leads to disappointment too, though. "But the elevator said there were boats here!"
This Elevator Has A Call Button 30 Ft Away So The Doors Will Be Open By The Time You Get To Them.
The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It's Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
This Elevator Shows How Close To Capacity It Is Based On The Weight Of The Riders
This Elevator Door...
Now That's One Ingenious And Well-Placed Movie Poster
This Elevator Wants You To Do Your Math
Hanging On To Dear Life On The Elevator Shaft
Elevators In The Mercedes-Benz Museum In Stuttgart
Fun Way To Decorate Elevator's Door
Interesting Capsule Elevator In Terminal 2 Of Taoyuan International Airport
Jump
The Mac Dad will make you! Daddy Mac will make you! Kris Kross will make you!
Only just found out why elevators have mirrored walls ( tbh never really thought about it much), it is so people in wheelchairs can see when the doors open it is actually a standard in their design
I did not know that either. And I am in a wheelchair. Did not think about it also. I always turn around in the elevator (after checking my make-up and hair for a few seconds lol) so I am facing the doors and 'drive' out more easily. Or when the elevator is crowded I 'drive' in backwards to begin with. So for me the mirror is just for checking how I look (as much people who can walk use it for also)
Exactly how I do it too, Kristel. 2 years ago I had surgery (major) that allowed me to walk again. I can walk about 200 feet or so now and the operation should last 5 - 10 years. I'm in my 60s so anything helps. But I have two other diseases that affect my legs in a bad way so I won't be surprised if I have to go back to using one. :)
I'm a wheelchair user and mirrored lifts I find really difficult to use as the reflection confuses me as I try to manoeuvre up or around. I much prefer lifts without mirrors, ones that are just solid colour. I Hate glass lifts, they make me feel really queasy or that I'll drive off the edge and drop down even though that's impossible 😕
These are soo smart and so unique!!! I love them!
I like most of these, but I couldn't use the scary elevators without floor or optical illusions. Too much for me... But there are really useful and fun ideas.
None of these are design “solutions”. They’re funny, but misleading title.
I wish they had locations, these are brilliant
Any idea that helps soothe the claustrophobic and people afraid of heights is a nice welcome. As long as it is under 10 flights and I have no baggage, I take the stairs. BUT, my mom doesn't like elevators for the above mentioned reasons and at 73, she is not able to run the stairs like she could before. I think all the ideas are welcome. It makes something that might be scary, FUN. And Taa-Daa, before you know it, you are at your desination..... The 3rd floor. :) A GREAT idea. Two thumbs UP! :) :)
I've been stuck in a freight elevator at work on a Saturday 4 feet off the ground I can see out of the small, rectangle window in the outer doors. I used the phone and reached the state police. They called my boss, who wasn't answering and the fire department, the elevator dude and my wife at work and the TV news. Kidding about the news. 4 hours and the elevator guy finally showed and told me how to release the pin, and my arm got greased up to where it hooks into my shoulder. I got out and the boss, who by then had shown up to see where the hell I was, told me to take the rest of the day off. Monday at work, I was the talk of the building. It was freaky and I was unsteady when I got out but recovered quickly with a cold beer.
Why hasn't anyone posted a pic of the Legoland hotel elevators? :(
My favourite elevator was the NY one that shows you the buildup of the city over the years. It must have been an extraordinary cost but they did it anyway, nice.
There use to be a Warner Bros. store on Fifth Ave in NYC. Three stories. The elevator was a glass one right on the corner of the building. As it rose up to the other floors, Superman appeared, seeming to fly the elevator up. Sadly I don't think it's there anymore.
Amazing designs! But won’t the lead time be extended by all those people who hold the elevator to take pictures?
Nice. Still doesn't stop me from having a claustrophobic attack though. :(
These are....interesting 😂
ME,? I JUST WANT TO GET TO MY FLOOR AND GET THE HECK OUT OF THESE WEIRD CONTRAPTIONS.
Only just found out why elevators have mirrored walls ( tbh never really thought about it much), it is so people in wheelchairs can see when the doors open it is actually a standard in their design
I did not know that either. And I am in a wheelchair. Did not think about it also. I always turn around in the elevator (after checking my make-up and hair for a few seconds lol) so I am facing the doors and 'drive' out more easily. Or when the elevator is crowded I 'drive' in backwards to begin with. So for me the mirror is just for checking how I look (as much people who can walk use it for also)
Exactly how I do it too, Kristel. 2 years ago I had surgery (major) that allowed me to walk again. I can walk about 200 feet or so now and the operation should last 5 - 10 years. I'm in my 60s so anything helps. But I have two other diseases that affect my legs in a bad way so I won't be surprised if I have to go back to using one. :)
I'm a wheelchair user and mirrored lifts I find really difficult to use as the reflection confuses me as I try to manoeuvre up or around. I much prefer lifts without mirrors, ones that are just solid colour. I Hate glass lifts, they make me feel really queasy or that I'll drive off the edge and drop down even though that's impossible 😕
These are soo smart and so unique!!! I love them!
I like most of these, but I couldn't use the scary elevators without floor or optical illusions. Too much for me... But there are really useful and fun ideas.
None of these are design “solutions”. They’re funny, but misleading title.
I wish they had locations, these are brilliant
Any idea that helps soothe the claustrophobic and people afraid of heights is a nice welcome. As long as it is under 10 flights and I have no baggage, I take the stairs. BUT, my mom doesn't like elevators for the above mentioned reasons and at 73, she is not able to run the stairs like she could before. I think all the ideas are welcome. It makes something that might be scary, FUN. And Taa-Daa, before you know it, you are at your desination..... The 3rd floor. :) A GREAT idea. Two thumbs UP! :) :)
I've been stuck in a freight elevator at work on a Saturday 4 feet off the ground I can see out of the small, rectangle window in the outer doors. I used the phone and reached the state police. They called my boss, who wasn't answering and the fire department, the elevator dude and my wife at work and the TV news. Kidding about the news. 4 hours and the elevator guy finally showed and told me how to release the pin, and my arm got greased up to where it hooks into my shoulder. I got out and the boss, who by then had shown up to see where the hell I was, told me to take the rest of the day off. Monday at work, I was the talk of the building. It was freaky and I was unsteady when I got out but recovered quickly with a cold beer.
Why hasn't anyone posted a pic of the Legoland hotel elevators? :(
My favourite elevator was the NY one that shows you the buildup of the city over the years. It must have been an extraordinary cost but they did it anyway, nice.
There use to be a Warner Bros. store on Fifth Ave in NYC. Three stories. The elevator was a glass one right on the corner of the building. As it rose up to the other floors, Superman appeared, seeming to fly the elevator up. Sadly I don't think it's there anymore.
Amazing designs! But won’t the lead time be extended by all those people who hold the elevator to take pictures?
Nice. Still doesn't stop me from having a claustrophobic attack though. :(
These are....interesting 😂
ME,? I JUST WANT TO GET TO MY FLOOR AND GET THE HECK OUT OF THESE WEIRD CONTRAPTIONS.