Vienna Central Station
In February 2017, Swiss architectural practice Theo Hotz Partner Architekten unveiled their new platform covers for Vienna’s Central Station. The undulating steel canopies won an Architizer A+ Award in the Bus and Train Stations category in 2016.
The new sculptural roofs are part of a major overhaul of the station, which is a pivotal hub for the city’s transport network.
The designers envisaged a public transportation hub with a sculptural roof that would function both as a flagship urban project and a landmark for a district in the process of change, with the station also providing the impetus for the further development and the creation of a new municipal park.
Providing a clear iconic identity for the station, the roof comprises a folded plate structure that undulates rhythmically above the five platforms, defining striking interior and exterior spaces.
The juxtaposition between the rise and fall in one direction and the compression and expansion in the other transforms a simple platform canopy into a spectacular roof exuding a strong sense of movement.
Comprising fourteen diamond-shaped segments and five single canopies, the roof extends in an alternating wave pattern over the platforms. Each diamond roof segment consists of a space frame punctured in the centre by a rhombus-shaped skylight.
The staggered arrangement of these linked segments in turn creates diamond-shaped openings on the sides, which are enclosed by a façade of scale-like triangular glass panels to provide protection against the elements.
The angled lines of the soffits reflect those of the folded plate structure above and their triangular surfaces create a striking crystalline form that produces stunning light effects.
Images and content courtesy of Theo Hotz Partner.
Photographs © Roman Bönsch.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Room data sheets are used to communicate the client’s requirements for each room on a project.
Earth's resources being consumed in ever greater volumes as symbolic 'overshoot' day moves forward again.
Full-scale review of fire safety guidance announced for the autumn.
Traditional construction materials
The Isle of Man’s naturally-occurring materials and distinctive building techniques.
BRE partner with Global GreenTag to develop an Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard for Australia.
The Chartered Quality Institute explain the pathway to success for organisations implementing management systems.
An introductory article looking at where a duty of care can arise in the construction industry.
House of Lords committee encourages the use of off-site manufacturing in new report.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can go some way to show the impact of new buildings on their surroundings.
The shortlist for the 2018 prize for the UK's best new building is revealed.