지하철 역사 프로젝트가 지향하는 공간은 승객들의 안전하면서도 쾌적한 승하차 공간을 보장하는 동시에 물리적인 거주환경의 질을 확보하는데 있다. 거기에 지하철 역사의 캐릭터를 창출하는 일은 당연한 일이다. 폭 20미터, 길이 140미터의 지하철 내 콘코스 구역의 기능적 공간확보를 위한 건축적 장치는 건축과 구조 그리고 디자인을 일체화한 콘크리트 프레임+ 글라스 블록으로 구축된다. 이와같이 구축된 무주공간은 지하철의 안전한 운행통로 확보와 승객들의 승하차 동선 및 대기공간을 형성하며 역사 내부를 밝고 광활한 오픈공간으로 연출시킨다.
reviewed by SJ
S-Bahn trains will cross beneath the centre of Leipzig from December 2013. This is when the
5.3 kilometre long city tunnel Leipzig, a joint development of Deutsche Bahn AG and the Free State of Saxony, will be completed. Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz / Platz der Friedlichen revolution station on the southern end of the historic city centre is one of four stations of the major project that is currently one of the largest inner-city infrastructure projects in Europe.
The design of the station is based on architect Max Dudler's successful competition entry from 1997. The Swiss architect's impressive 140 metre long and 20 metre wide station concourse has just recently been awarded the city of Leipzig's architecture award.
The station concourse, with a rectangular section and a slight longitudinal curve, is situated 20 metres below ground. Walls and ceilings of the elongated, column-free hall are clad with large, backlit prefabricated glass blocks set into a framework of fair-faced precast concrete. This gives the station concourse a bright and spacious feel. Extreme repetition of one and the same motif makes its actual dimensions almost intangible for passengers.
The light-coloured, jointless terrazzo flooring of the insular platform acts as a quiet counterpoint to the seemingly endless pattern of the walls. All necessary station furniture is arranged on the platform in the shape of geometrical concrete sculptures, all functions such as seating, timetables and ticket machines having in a sense been subtracted from or carved out of the concrete cubes.
The station concourse's supporting structure of precast reinforced concrete is not visible behind the glass block cladding. The wall elements of the glass block envelope are anchored to a steel substructure on the tunnel wall. The ceiling elements are suspended from the building shell.
Passengers access the station through the entrances on the north and south ends of the station that are fitted with solid staircases, escalators and elevators. The architectural design of the two entrances is in deliberate contrast to the filigree, seemingly transparent station concourse. As soon as they dip beneath the surface of the square, the staircases and their inner casings are made entirely of fair-faced concrete. The minimalist, almost coarse design conveys an impression of descending towards the interior of the earth, as if it was tunnelled directly into the rock.
The stairs and the platform combine seamlessly into a monolithic ribbon. Similar to the station concourse, the aboveground entrance buildings have also been fitted with glass block components. They will help bring the square to life when illuminated at night.
Wilhelm Leuschner was a social democrat politician and part of the resistance against National Socialism. Formerly known as Königsplatz, this square in Leipzig was renamed Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz in his honour in 1945. In 2013 it was finally renamed "Platz der Friedlichen Revolution" to honour the important role it played during German reunification.
from dezeen