Klaus Bürgle

100-storey residential towers, jet powered commuter trains, 1968.

The graphic artist Klaus Bürgle was born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1926.

Bürgle studied at the the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design from 1948 to 1951. After a 1-year stint working at a graphic design firm, he decided to go freelance. It was in 1953 that he began illustrating for science and technology magazines such as Das Neue Universum ("The New Universe").

Throughout the 1950's and 60's, Klauss Bürgle created countless covers and interior illustrations for a wide variety of popular science books and magazines, as well as working on scientific-themed television shows. While space exploration was certainly his favorite subject, many of his works show futuristic cities and transport.

Much like Star Trek or Expo 67 itself, I've always loved how the "future" was depicted in the past...!

"Air station" connected to rail system with parking for thousands of cars, 1955.

Interchange with seperate levels for cars and public transit, 1965.

Multi-storey expressway with overhead monorails, 1959. (I love the cars...!)

A fully automated rapid transit system carrying both people and cars, 1969.

Remote-controlled high-speed tube trains, above and below ground, 1967.

Polar-region air terminal, 1953.

images: retro-futurismus.de