Lorient-Bretagne Sud rail station is amongst those shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2018.
SNCF spin-off agency AREP delivered the multi-award winning rebuild of the city of Lorient’s station in 2017, and since then, the striking wooden framed and metal structure has picked up recognition at a whole host of international design awards.
The passenger building accommodates a large concourse featuring a Douglas-fir timber frame as well as concrete floors, columns and beams that ensure stability. The main façade opens up to the heart of the city and alludes to the city’s shipbuilding tradition; the linear form of the building, stretching over 115 metres, gives the station an imposing presence.
Outside, there’s a breathtaking 160 metre stretch of wood and glass forming the bus station canopy, supported by beams set precisely at every 4.80 metres.
The Awards
Lorient-Bretagne Sud railway station is among the 13 shortlisted projects in the “Transport – Completed Buildings” category at the World Architecture Festival. The jury trawled through more than 1,000 entries from 81 countries to draw up the shortlist. The winners will be announced at the Festival, which takes place in Amsterdam from 28 – 30 November 2018.
Here’s a few of the other finalists.
Benthem Crouwel Architects – North South Line, Amsterdam, Netherlands
After 22 years of politics, engineering, designing and building, the new Amsterdam metro link from the north to the south opened in July 2018. Benthem Crouwel Architects designed seven metro stations: two stations above ground and five stations underground, along a route that is almost ten kilometers long.
Each station is unique. Its architecture is determined by the different locations and by the space allowed by the Amsterdam city plan. At the same time, all stations are related to each other, and share a main architectural concept: the shortest possible connection between the underground platform and street level, and a logistics routing that flows in one continuous movement.
Grimshaw – London Bridge station, London, United Kingdom
Grimshaw’s startling redevelopment of London Bridge station also makes the shortlist for 2018. Part of The Shard development and featuring a dramatic triple-height atrium and public square, the dynamic canopy ribbons impart a clear identity to the station; at the same time, its material palette of brick, stone and glazing forms a congruent connection to the surrounding context.
Ashley Halliday Architects – Kangaroo Island Air Terminal, Kingscote, Australia
Consistent with ‘Brand Kangaroo Island’s’ message and core values, Ashley Halliday created a strong, authentic and charismatic identity for the new terminal by foregrounding and enhancing the terminals’ relationship with its unique natural setting, and making the terminal a popular destination and brand ambassador in its own right.
Arrivals are greeted by a striking curvilinear weathered timber façade and salient white veil, detailed to express and celebrate the effects of weather and time – an authentic and defining aspect of the island’s weather-beaten character and resilience.
See the full shortlist for the World Architecture Festival, plus finalists in the other categories here.
Have you been to any of the shortlisted transport hubs yet? What did you think? Are there any places you think should’ve made the shortlist, but didn’t?
Let us know in the comments below, or drop us a tweet – @transportdsn.
Image credits: AREP Group, Benthem Crouwel Architects, Grimshaw and Ashley Halliday.
