Client
The City of Pforzheim
Architecture
Metaraum Architects BDA
Structural engineering
Engelsmann Peters GmbH, Stuttgart
Photos
Zooey Braun
Completion
2015
Project Team DAY & LIGHT
Frank Vetter
Stefan Vetter
Situated at a suitable distance from the main station, the new central bus station (ZOB) complements the historic building. It creates a striking urban design accent and lends character and quality of stay to the previously rather unwelcoming space east of the station building. Instead of a monotonous arrangement of bus bays, a covered urban space with high recognition value has been created. The division of the roof area into three segments subordinates the ZOB to the scale of the main station, preserves its visual dominance and importance in the urban fabric, and simultaneously allows for exciting views and connections to the districts north of the railway line.
The lighting underscores the bus station's urban significance and symbolism, while simultaneously creating a safe and pleasant environment for users. In doing so, we considered the structure not as a standalone piece, but as an integral part of the transport hub.
The brightness and colours of the lighting have been chosen to harmonise with the neighbouring buildings and the street lighting. They significantly improve orientation and the sense of security.
The orange glowing roof outline forms an identity-creating eye-catcher and marks the location of the covered structure from afar, as well as the boundary between surrounding traffic areas and covered bus platforms. The colour of the LED light line was deliberately chosen in trials to be contrasting, but not complementary, to the light colour of the adjacent street lighting with sodium vapour lamps. Attention should be drawn to the unusual structure without creating visual barriers between the bus station and its surroundings.
The surface-mounted luminaires on the supports uniformly illuminate the roof areas, giving them a bright and light effect. The neutral white light colour creates a clear contrast with the yellow-orange of the surrounding street lighting, but thematically corresponds with the lighting of the DB station and its platforms.
The indirect lighting is supplemented by downlights with precisely defined cones of light for the bus lanes. With their warm white light colour, they visibly set the bus lanes apart from the traffic lanes, creating plasticity and contrast. The combination of light components ensures balanced and high-quality lighting.
