Page 127 - samyn_ebook2

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4.10 The vertical facades.
The facades are transparent over their full height. These glass walls seem to blur
the distinction between inside and outside. The curved surfaces of the roof define
a protected area but the tension they create with the exterior is resolved in an
expressive way through the flowing lines of the inside space. The design of the
facades is simplified to such an extent that one tends to overlook them.
There is no noticeable clarity difference between the exterior and the periphery of
the inside space, so that the space of the station blends with its surroundings. The
envelope is gradually dissolved into the light.
The light façade in laminated glass is connected to the load-bearing vertical profiles
by means of a steel framework. The façade is opened up at the intersection with
the footbridge; the form and structure of this opening allows the façade to move
independently from the footbridge and the elevators.
All glass panels are 3,25 m wide, and follow the rhythmic sequence of the main
steel structure. The front profiles were originally designed with a minimal section.
The bending of the profiles and the glass under strong winds would in no case lead
to breakage, but the façade would however move in a horizontal direction. These
motions are acceptable and fully absorbed by the wishbone. Heavier profiles,
allowing a maximum covering bend of 1/500, were selected during the building
phase of the project.
Maintenance lattices allow easy access for upkeep of the facades. A lifeline
connected to the supporting brackets prevents workers from falling.
The integration of the cover with the old station building is discreet, respecting the
integrity of this historical building. A horizontal canopy above the first platform
establishes the connection with the historical building.
The renewal of the façade along Martelarenlaan offers a first connection point
for the new “station-island Kessel-Lo”. The façade demands a certain feeling of
openness.
The competition design places a concrete plate over the railway bed from the bank
on the other side to the two farthest freight tracks. Along the lane at the other side
(Martelarenlaan), the plate forms a square or piazza offering a panoramic view of
the station and the canopy. Along this square, the four arches seem to touch the
ground at street level. They form an elegant elongated front with an undulating
roofline and a façade of slender glass panes. People can, just as it used to be the
case in airports, wave travelers goodbye or watch the activities of passers-by and
nearby operating machinery.
The evolution of the development on the Kessel-Lo side has lead to a different
approach. It was furthermore proven difficult to cover the freight tracks.
To define the boundaries of the covering and make a connection with the
development of the Kessel-Lo side, an expanded steel wall and canopy are placed
between the passenger tracks and the freight tracks. This highly transparent wall
also serves as an acoustic shield between the areas of the passing freight rail
traffic and the station activities. The construction of the wall and the expansion of
the footbridge in the direction of Kessel-Lo are planned for 2009.