VäSTERåS TRAVEL CENTER in Sweden by BIG

Article source: BIG

Västerås Travel Center is a new transportation hub for trains, buses, taxis, bikes and pedestrians in the heart of Västerås – one of Sweden’s largest cities. The 17-acre project is part of the ambitious long-term urban redevelopment plan “3B – Build Away the Barriers” that seeks to redesign the area surrounding the railway station, reconnecting it to the city of Västerås.

Image Courtesy © BIG

• Architects: BIG
• Project: VäSTERåS TRAVEL CENTER
• Location: Västerås, Sweden (59.6092,16.5472)
• Software used: Autocad and Ahino
• PROJECT TEAM
  • Partners in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, David Zahle
  • Project Leader: Kamilla Heskje
  • Team, Phase Two: Johan Bergström, Megan Cumming, Teodor Cristian Fratila, Malgorzata Mutkowska, Ioana Farţadi Scurtu, Magnus Garvoll, Nicolas Millot, Perle Van de Wyngaert, Andreas Klok Pedersen, Finn Nørkjær, Tobias Hjortdal
  • Team, Phase One: Andreas Klok Pedersen, Oscar Abrahamsson, Nicolas Millot, Camila Luise de Andrade Stadler, Gwendoline Eveillard, Franck Fdida, Giedrius Mamavicius
• Collaborators: Tyréns, Kragh & Berghlund
• Client: Västerås City, Jernhusen AB, Klövern AB
• Size in m2: 12000
• Status: In Progress
• Code: VTC
• Date: 02/06/2015

Image Courtesy © BIG

The existing rail station divides Västerås – with train tracks bisecting neighborhoods of the city it serves rather than linking them together. The new 12,000 m2 Västerås Travel Center connects the areas on either side of the tracks and unites the city’s infrastructure under one floating roof. Like a continuous thin sheet, the roof is gently lifted at its four corners, wrapping the city’s vehicular infrastructure in multiple layers of public program and urban spaces. These four corners create welcoming entrance points, inviting travelers and visitors inside. Restaurants, cafes, bike parking, retail and other facilities are organized alongside train, bus and car traffic to support the free flow of public life through the building and out towards the city to nearby Lake Mälaren.

Image Courtesy © BIG

Rather than becoming an infrastructural node for public transportation, the new Västerås Travel Center is shaped by the flow of people and public life, turning infrastructural necessities into opportunities for social interaction.

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Image Courtesy © BIG

Tags: Sweden, Västerås

Categories: Autocad, public spaces, Rhino

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2015 at 7:58 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.