Station Square

The station square’s dimension was a poor proportion and had an unfavourable spatial character. The moving and stationary road traffic further devalued the urban space.

Therefore the design proposed a spatial and functional division of the square. The square building positioned in north-south direction divides the total square area into two partial zones. Whilst the eastern part serves the moving road traffic and is used as a bus station, the western half is designed as a generous pedestrian precinct, framed by the station building, the main post office and the square building.

The building height of the newly conceived square building is limited in order to maintain the dominance of the station building and the visual presence of the Toto-Lotto tower block for the pedestrian precinct. The square building is completely glazed and transparent. The visual link through the glass to the bus station’s operation is therefore ensured.

The square building comprises three storeys; the roof shape repeats the barrel roofs of the developments adjoining the station hall. The transparency of the square building is a deliberately characteristic: a lightweight steel construction, filigree columns, which divide the building and support the slightly swinging roof figuration. The complete glazing reflects the station building as well as the projecting roofs of the bus station.

The bus stops are densely allocated underneath a generous glass roof. The traffic direction is simple and ensures a clear orientation for bus drivers as well as passengers. The function rooms accompanying the bus station are located in the square building.

In correspondence to the different uses, both parts of the square are designed differently. Whilst the bus station receives a transparent steel-and-glass roof, the station square is dominated by the design of the stone pavement with groups of trees and resting areas.

The uniform design of the stone pavement from existing granite paving stones is continued across Löhrstraße up to the urban administration building, in order to emphasize the uniformity of the square despite different intersecting roads. The deliberately placed trees are an artificial and independent design component within the otherwise stone urban landscape.