This new bus station in Santiago de Compostela sees the concept of building merge with that of a viewpoint over the immediate surroundings that border the lowlands of the Sar River.
From this starting point, the IDOM architects organized the elements required. Structural components are in the central area of the building to avoid clashes with bus loading bays, providing more fluid movement of vehicles and people. Large overhangs protect the bays from inclement weather.
The bus terminal is organized on two superimposed floors. On the lower floor is the area of the loading bays and the vehicle circulation and maneuvering lanes. The upper floor meanwhile houses the services necessary to attend to passengers.
The building’s volume is more controlled towards the side facing onto city and park, helping to protect waiting and standing space. The volume then opens in the direction of the train tracks. The change in scale makes it additionally possible to differentiate uses arranged on both sides of the entrance hall. To the south, a large terrace onto which the cafeteria opens can be enjoyed by users and residents of Santiago. To the north, services are grouped into low bodies that protrude from the perimeter glass enclosure.
The expansive roof plane and overhang are made possible by a light structure of metal profiles complete with an ETFE coating to improve protection against rain for users. The roof plane is perforated by longitudinal skylights that guarantee that natural light reaches all interior spaces. In addition, a continuous window on the north facade breaks up the roof plane, allowing a diffuse light that complements light from the skylights.
By avoiding direct solar radiation inside the terminal thanks to the large roof overhang, the project can minimize the use of air conditioning systems many days of the year. A biomass boiler was meanwhile specified as a renewable energy source for heat production.
