11.10.2017
The new lightrailstation in The Hague, a design by ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architects, has won the WAN Transport in Architecture Award 2017. The winner was announced during the UK Construction Week in Birmingham.
The jury praised the elegant design of the lightrailstation and the transition of the platforms to the striking canopy. According to the jury, the spacial clarity facilitates a traveller in easily finding their way. Jury member Jon Tollit "The elegance of the functionality is enhanced by the architecture, rather than the two fighting each other. Its context, the simplicity and the scale is really nice, it has a city scale as well as a human scale."
The sculptural roof of the platforms of the lightrailstation consists of curved steel and glass. A striking covered walkway in the form of an expressive canopy connects the lightrailstation with The Hague Central Station. Due to its slim construction, the lightrailstation has a minimal impact on the urban environment.
ZJA developed the design of the spatial roof structure with a computational design model, which generates and analyzes the structure, providing geometrical and structural optimization. As a result, the complex form of the spatial roof of the platform, the use of single and cold curved glass and steel and the rolled steel profiles could be achieved. The design model used allowed to accomplish shaping that was both constructive and technically feasible, besides also being affordable.
Last year, ZJA won the WAN Award 2016 with the underground parking garage Kustwerk Katwijk together with Royal HaskoningDHV and Ballast Nedam.
Photographs: Bart van Hoek and Jeroen Musch
