benthem crouwel + west 8 win the international competition for the new brno main station

benthem crouwel architects and west 8 won the international competition commissioned by the city of brno, czech republic, to design its new main train station. the winning proposal will be the catalyst for the city promoting a new and vibrant district, while its simple yet smart design will be the focal point of the region. the architects designed a multi-functional hub, the urban area, and the neighboring station district, highlighting the region’s character showing at the same time gentle management of the surroundings.all images courtesy of play-time

benthem crouwel architects and west 8 formed monumental arches, as part of the frontage, welcoming the travelers, while unobstructed views open up towards the city. furthermore, tree-lined highways join the station with the center and the cathedral with the svratka river park. passengers are guided through the central hall, articulated by the rhythm of voids for access to the platforms, towards a pedestrian promenade which gradually connects the station, waterfront park and new urban development to the city fabric.

the proposal emphasizes the city’s historical character, combining it with a modern hub and a high-quality public space. the project takes shape as a complete solution for a multimodal transport hub including 14 platforms for highspeed and local trains, tram- and city buses, a regional bus station, a metro station, a bicycle and car parking. furthermore, the design consists of passenger services, facilities and owns spacious retail and food and beverage areas. meanwhile, the station includes an urban development with offices, housing, hotel and high-quality public space including a waterfront park and urban promenade.

the design integrates the cultural heritage of brno with the implementation of a public lit-well hall, a space between the city and train platform. the location is characterized by two diagonally positioned towers that situate the new station’s position within the city. the central space — with its access to the train platforms — is connected to the two station halls on either end of the corridor. functioning as two, covered, public squares, they link to metro, bus, parking, retail, and passenger services. these halls serve as natural wayfinding, while passengers are able to easily orientate themselves via sightlines within the station.

an undulated convex glass canopy tops the train platforms and bus station protecting the passengers from rain and harsh sunlight while collecting solar energy to generate an eco-friendly station. benthem crouwel architects and west 8 sought to improve the carbon footprint of the station design; they utilized bio-based materials such as cross-laminated timber to complete the roofing structures, notably reduced the length of the ramps, and decreased the use of reinforced concrete. the project also incorporates nature-based rainwater management, the use of filtered daylight, natural ventilation, and low-temperature floor heating and cooling based on a reversible heat pump connected to a geothermal source.