PROJECT REPORT: TRANSPORT FACILITIES & PUBLIC REALM
station’s triangular pediment into “softer geometries and volumes” that reduce in scale as the bridge descends to street level in the Naujininkai district. A linear skylight runs along its length, and glazed facades provide light and views over the railway tracks, helping “intuitive navigation through the concourse,” said ZHA.
station has resulted in a “concourse bridge” added above, with pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes. The architects commented that this was a “contemporary reinterpretation informed by the existing heritage building.” The bridge’s timber roof undulates from a pitched form defined by the existing 9,000 m2
insulation in the winter.” The urban green spaces provided will give an
“interconnected series of natural habitats within the city, which are easily accessible and can be enjoyed by communities throughout the year to enhance wellbeing and interaction.”
The concourse bridge is 46 metres wide and spans 150 metres across the railway platforms (supported 10 metres above the tracks). The roof’s “fluid forms,” similarly to the roof of the adjacent bus terminal, are constructed in locally-sourced laminated timber.
The project creates a major new feature in the city which should attract locals, even those who aren’t travelling – in contrast to the current rail station, hampered by the presence of various temporary buildings. Gianluca Racana, director at ZHA said: “Our proposals transform the site into a destination not only for those using the transportation hub but also for the city and the local community.”
Clear connections
Removing the temporary kiosks and offices installed over recent decades, the “clarity of the existing station has been restored.” The scheme links the station to the new bus terminal to provide better connectivity for passengers. There will also be an “inhabited landscape” within the park that sits in front of the station; an outdoor “amphitheatre,” plus a ramp leading to a roof terrace on the bus terminal. Existing car parking in Stoties Square, which sits next to the park, has been moved to a new underground facility. This allows the square and park to become a “vibrant civic space” which can be better used. More than 300 trees and 4,000 m2
of landscaping
for the project include the creation of tree- lined avenues along main axes, and water gardens for the collection, filtration and purification of rainwater.
Nature-based
Nature-based solutions are “integral to the design,” said ZHA. Green roofs, landscaping and planting will “lower temperatures in summer and provide heat
ADF FEBRUARY 2022
The design also incorporates technologies and “depolluting strategies” designed to improve air quality within adjacent neighbourhoods. Annual solar radiation analysis has been used by ZHA to design glazed facades in order to maximise sunlight within interiors in winter and reduce glare in the summer.” This analysis also determined the positioning of photovoltaic panels for optimum efficiency. The Mayor of Vilnius, Remigijus
Šimašius, commented on the project goals: “We are working to ensure that the entire station district meets the criteria for the city we are developing today: green, comfortable and inspiring.” The body managing the railway
network, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (LTG) wanted the station and its surroundings to “become a destination providing public spaces with leisure and service areas, convenient connections for pedestrians, cyclists and all those who choose to travel comfortably and sustainably by train,” according to its head, Mantas Bartuška. He added: “We are determined to open and convert the station’s formerly inaccessible industrial spaces for use by all residents.” Vilnius’ chief architect Mindaugas Pakalnis commented on why ZHA’s scheme won, against many “strong proposals” for the project. “They know Vilnius, and have extensive experience designing detailed projects, including the Rail Baltica railway station in Tallinn.” He added: “The concept presents a
unique, recognisable, contextually appropriate design for the new terminal that creates a network of public spaces of the highest quality and establishes important connections between districts.” He said it also “creates opportunities to convert the former railway maintenance yard and surrounding areas.” The project will now be developed in detail. ZHA’s scheme for the reuse of the station looks to be a great example of how architecture can resolve several problems at once, in this case creating a “future-proof” transport hub designed with passengers in mind. However, it’s also one that provides a wealth of new public space, and connectivity that improves the wider urban context.
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The project creates a major new feature in the city which should attract locals, even those who aren’t travelling – in contrast to the current rail station
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