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] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
The real economic impact of historic preservation.
Five surprising civil engineering skills
None have anything to do with maths, physics or science!
Compressor market trends for the EMEA region
Report includes sales vs production of compressors by type.
Government announces latest plans for growth.
Changes to product testing under the Building Safety Bill
Will the new requirements - once passed - go far enough?
HORSA huts - prefab school structures
These post-WWII modular buildings were unpopular, yet ubiquitous.
A bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland
What's the verdict from the court of public opinion?
Open plan living falls out of fashion
Shift to home-based work influences closed plan preferences.
The UK heating industry and the Brexit transition
An overview of the current state of the market.
UEFA guide to renovating football training facilities
Organisation offers best practices for construction and modification.
Heritage on the edge?
Prioritising tax considerations.
Reviewing the Double Diamond Design model
The four D creative process: discover, define, develop and deliver.
National Cyber Security Centre initiative is announced.