The new tram stop at the Main Train Station in Berlin Europaplatz, design collaboration with GRUBER + POPP ARCHITEKTEN, counts with a number of design features that make it a comfortable, modern and resource efficient urban project.
The two lightweight, slim, elegantly curved shell roofs are 58m long and 6m wide. Symmetrically arranged, the roofs are supported by the central vertical escalator shaft walls and additional steel support points. The cantilevered roofs and the shaft walls merge in the centre lowering the ceiling and providing shelter from the environment through the additional glass walls.
The central area in each platform was designed for the comfort of users, naturally also housing all facilities of the stop; the lighting too was designed for comfort, operating by automatically controlled sensors that capture changes in daylight to maintain illumination constant and further contribute to reducing energy consumption.
At night, the light further contribute to highlight the clear design lines of the high-strength, lightweight, ivory-coloured monolithic exposed concrete that created this homogenous finish. The material translated itself into pure and simple dynamic forms. The curvature of the roofs is of engineering significance, allowing for the shell bearing behaviour with minimised bending movements.
The staircases were made of granite for its long-term durability and strength and in addition to the escalators facilitate the movement in the underground levels of the main train station. The tram stop is a connecting hub for passengers and architecturally significant to the urban-fabric of the city, built with all subtleties of modernity.
schlaich bergermann partner’s scope of work: conceptual and construction design, and technical spots check
Technical Specifications of the Roof
Length: 58m
Width: 6m
Surface: 700m²
Lower Edge Height: approximately 4.90m
Lightweight concrete: LC 45/50 with density of 1600kg/m³
