A team led by UK architect Foster + Partners has been picked to design an integrated transport hub and a mixed-use district in Stockholm.
At the heart of the scheme is a revamp of the city’s Central Station, the largest rail hub in Sweden. This was built 150 years ago and, despite periodic expansions, Adolf Edelsvärd’s original design will be unequal to the growth in transport demands placed on it.
The Foster team won a competition to design a masterplan for the station and its surrounding area. The aim is to double Central Stockholm’s capacity and give it a public square.
The architect comments that its plans were inspired by the scale and colours of the nearby Klara blocks (pictured), and that its design “builds on the existing streetscape of the city to create a dynamic district for a range of mixed-use functions”.
There will also be a recreation of the historic Station Railway Park on the southern tip of the site, which will give views over the old town of Gamla stan, Södermalm and the City Hall.
Among the elements in the plan will be the narrowing Klarabergsgatan Viaduct and a reduction in traffic flow, as well as an extension of the station’s central waiting hall. The entrance will combine the new and historic parts of the station, and will give a subway link to the city’s metro system as well as its main bus station and Arlanda Express rail link to the airport. This, Foster says, will bring together four modes of transport to create a single intermodal station.
There may also be a centralised logistics hub to the west of the tracks, where goods and refuse can be dealt with.
Angus Campbell, Foster’s senior partner, added: “This is a historic undertaking. We are incredibly honoured to be tasked with developing our proposals further. Stockholm is a unique city with historic city silhouettes. We believe our proposals can form meaningful connections between the city and the central station area, while creating green urban spaces for people to meet, as well as a central focus for sustainable travel at the heart of Stockholm.”
Other members of the team include local firms Marge Arkitekter and LAND Arkitektur, as well as US consulting engineer Thornton Tomasetti and Danish consulting engineer Ramboll.
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