trapezoidal geometries and gridded textures shape studio 3mark’s bike station in italy

studio 3mark enhances sustainable mobility in cuneo

Part of a government scheme to develop sustainable mobility actions in Italy, Studio 3Mark’s Velostazione is a bike station that serves as a link node to and from the Cuneo railway station. Commuters can store their bicycles and e-bikes inside its trapezoidal white metal form which facilitates rail/road modal exchange while promoting cycle mobility in the region. The modular volume creates an engaging public infrastructure with an emphasis on functionality, while creating a distinct architectural character to elevate the urban landscape. Its rectangular shape is defined by a lightweight envelope of steel gates, panels, and grids configured in a dynamic geometric composition which optimizes durability and cost efficiency, while protecting the station from adverse weather elements. Its definitive feature is a striking diagonal ridge roof which adds a sculptural elegance and creates a visual coherency with the project’s key geometric language.

all images courtesy of Studio 3Mark

enlivened by geometric panels and diagonal lines

The Italian Municipality of Cuneo’s MOBIL project sought to enhance mobility in the reference area, promote tourism, and improve the quality of life of residents. The team at Studio 3Mark developed Velostazione of Cuneo as a simple functional scheme that prioritizes the ease of bike storage and claim paths with a clean and linear configuration. The station features a spacious corridor on one side for circulation, while carefully organized bicycle parking spots sit on the other.

A sloping ridge roof becomes the volume’s most prominent element, with its angle becoming exactly the diagonal of the rectangle at the base. The wall elements, with two different type of stripes combined together with the grids, create trapezoidal shapes which are also recalled in the geometries of the concrete seats and the flowerbeds of the surrounding square, achieving a cohesive visual language.

Velostazione de Cuneo serves as a link node to and from the railway station

With both environmental and economic sustainability in mind, Studio 3Mark constructed the main body with a modular metal structure which was predominantly assembled within a mechanical workshop before being transported to the site for final construction. This resulted in reduced construction timelines and costs without compromising the project’s overall quality.

A corten steel ‘banner’ was created to separate the existing parking area from the encircling pedestrian zone. Here, letters forming the word ‘VELOSTAZIONE’ have been drilled into the base, serving a dual purpose as bicycle racks. Additionally, a covered area was positioned in the adjacent square to offer an extension of the bicycle park.

the semi-transparent grids infuse light into the bike station

a simple functional scheme prioritizes the ease of bike storage and claim paths

with a clean and linear configuration, a corridor sits on one side with bicycle parking spots on the other

a sloping ridge roof becomes the volume’s most prominent element

steel gates, panels, and grids are configured in a dynamic geometric composition

Studio 3Mark partakes in the Municipality’s scheme to develop sustainable mobility actions in Italy

project info:

name: Velostazione of Cuneo
architecture: Studio 3Mark
location: Cuneo, Italy

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom