cepezed recently designed a new bus station for the City of Tilburg, Netherlands. The new public transport facility generates its own energy and its design is thoroughly integrated.
The new bus station is a part of the large-scale revitalization of the Tilburg public transport hub. It is fully tailored to the comfort of the travelers and to clear and pleasant traffic flow.
The basic setup consists of a series of very thin columns with an evenly minimalistic awning structure on top of them. The construction forms a triangular circuit with a length of over 160 meters and an open space in the center. The bus positions are arranged around the outer side; six for boarding and one for deboarding. The awning circulation runs from 14 to 30 meters width in total and has two offsets in its contour. These are primarily functional and align with the urban context, but visually, they also resonate elegantly with the monumental roof structure of the train station. This also has an articulated structure and moreover seems to float, just like the bus station awning. The setoffs divide the overall structure into three segments. In the center of every segment, there is green plantation surrounded by a sitting edge for the travelers. On the wide end of the circuit, the center additionally contains a pavilion. This houses a staff canteen for the bus drivers, a public transport service point and a commercial space that has to find its function yet. An elevated terrace adjoins this commercial space.
The spacious awning all around fully covers the bus platforms and additionally part of the buses. Thus, travelers can always board and deboard sheltered and protected from the rain. The structure consists of a steel framework covered with ETFE-foil. The lighting is fitted above this foil. During the day, the awning filters the sunlight, while during the dark hours, it becomes one large and spacious lighting element that strongly adds to the travelers' feeling of safety. 250 m2 of solar panels lie atop of the awning. In strong daylight, these cast a shadow pattern on the ETFE that makes the travelers aware of their presence. The panels supply sufficient energy for all functionalities of the bus station, including the lighting of the awning, the digital information signs, the staff canteen, and the public transport service point. The commercial space has its own energy circuit and energy meter.
The bus station was also designed for inclusiveness. For example, the elevated terrace can be reached by wheelchairs through a ramp and the handrails between the terrace and the platforms have been provided with braille signing. The ETFE foil of the awning is self-cleaning and hardly needs any maintenance. For service on the solar panels and electrical equipment, the awning circulation is easily accessible via the pavilion and a walkable cable gutter. The overall unornamented design with a minimum of edges and corners reduces the costs for cleaning. Additionally, for the future, the bus station is already prepared for the placement of extra electrical equipment that can quickly charge electrical busses.
Photography: Lucas van der Wee