14.09.2017
The lightrailstation in The Hague is one out of six nominated projects for the WAN Transport Award 2017. A new lightrailstation designed by ZJA was built for the E-line, the lightrail connection between Rotterdam and The Hague. The lightrailstation consists of a sculptural shaped roof, which consists of steel and cold curved glass. A striking covered walkway connects the lightrailstation to The Hague Central Station.
The jury praises the elegant design of the lightrailstation and its expressive transition of the canopy. In addition, the spacial clarity facilitates a traveller in easily finding their way. Jon Tollit: "I love the transition from the platform, it drops out and becomes a canopy, that's really lovely".
ZJA developed the design of the spatial roof structure with a computational design model that allowed for the use of single-curved and cold bent glass. Besides the advantage of using cold curved glass, it also allowed for a drastically reduced usage of material for the steel structure. This was made possible by taking a genetic algorithmic approach. The roof of platforms of the lightrailstation is the first scripted design by ZJA that has been constructed. The fully transparent roof provides for a significant reduction in energy. The roof is well lit during the day, and in the evening a starry sky of energy-efficient, custom-made LED lights illuminates the platforms and entrance area of the station.
The winner of the WAN Transport Award 2017 will be announced on October 10th, 2017 at the UK Construction Week.
Photographs: Jeroen Musch and Bart van Hoek