Assignment
In 2007 Lysbeth de Groot, at that time urban designer at the Municipality of Groningen, designed the Busstop at the waiting area of Park+Ride Citybus Groningen. In 2008 Lysbeth LYVR began her own design firm LYVR. The Municipality of Groningen commissioned LYVR for further elaboration and supervision of the design.
Location
The site is located at the south side of the A7 near Peizermade on the border of the province of Groningen and Drenthe. The P+R offers space for 600 cars, bicycles and offers various options for transfer from county and city buses.
The busstop
The waiting room is located on the edge of the parking and the bus lane, directly offering access to the Central Station of Groningen. The waiting area is a partially enclosed public space that consists of a square and a building with waiting facilities.
The square
The triangular square is characterized by a pattern of lily leaves that extends to inside the building. The large lily leaves are a reference to the countryside with many ditches, the area where the building is located. The square is slightly elevated. Handicapped access the square by ramps and fysical guidelines are integrated in the surface.
The building is waiting
The main structure of the building is a domed concrete shell that is incised on three sides. The form knows no right angles, but is composed of circles, arcs and spheres. Inside is a triangular metal core which include a disabled toilet, a utility room and a driver room is included. The central core is also part of the main structure that is self-supporting. The shape of the building is a clear striking sculpture in the landscape. The openness of the building creates a public safety. Lighting also plays an important role. The recessions are partly filled with glass sections, for which is chosen three different color schemes, which refer to the three directions from where the buses come together. At the same time, these glass walls also give shelter from wind and rainfall. At the evening the building is lit in several ways directly and indirectly so that it looks like a multicolored lantern light. Inside the room round concrete pouffes offer passengers a dry and sheltered waiting experience. The timetable of the buses are visible within and outside the waiting room via an integrated digital information system.
Materialization
Concrete shell, finished with transparant anti-grafity coating. (Very nice quality concrete, on site manufactured.)
Industrial glazing, Profilit and color films.
Metal sheet facade on inner core.
Floor finish by Bolidt. (Unique color, especially developed on demand for this project.)
Concrete pouffes, colored and finished on top with wood.
Direct and indirect (partly LED) Lighting by Philips.
Dynamic Travel Information System (DRIS) via digital screens.
Dates
Start Construction: December 7th, 2009.
Completion: December 1st, 2010.
Opening: January 13rd, 2011.
Awards
Third prize by public jury at the Day of Architecture 2011.
Credits
Designer: LYVR, Lysbeth de Groot-de Vries, www.lyvr.nl
Client: Municipality of Groningen, Department ROEZ
Architectural drawings: Johan de Groot, www.jadg.nl
Engineering: Ingenieursbureau Gemeente Groningen (IGG)
Contractor: MNO Vervat
Photography: Johan de Groot