Hannover is a city rich in history, but it lacks some of the points of reference typical of Europe's historic cities. Over the years, however, the main metro station of Kröpcke and the square over it have become what we could call a mental and physical place of reference. This is the station in the center that acts as the hub for ten subway lines and it currently covers an area of about 12,000 square meters. The station is a place with a dynamic attendance: there are no significant internal facilities and it is rather a bridge connecting the outskirts with the entire "Kröpcke" district. Nevertheless, it is a place marked by the significant encounter between different social typologies - with all the problems that this can engender - and this is the reason that Üstra, the company that manages the metro lines, has assigned us a project that is potentially applicable to the entire network in order to improve the approach to the station and its use, also on the occasion of Expo 2000, an event that will bring millions of visitors to Hannover. The station is connected to the main railroad station by a gallery of medium-level shops. This gallery is accessed via sets of stairs distributed along the street level of Bahnhofstrasse, covering a route that is about one kilometer long. As a result, the incoming and outgoing flow of pedestrian traffic is heavy in both directions. The existing station was built in the Seventies and is a powerful contrivance in reinforced concrete that is brutal in style yet has its own expressive dimension. The aesthetic project starts with this very point: the need for a radical change in the currently oppressive atmosphere of the place, united with the desire to maintain the driving spirit behind the intervention. The entire complex will be given a new "skin" and, as with all the choices made in this project, this cladding is lightsome and luminous, with opal glass mosaic work. The light passes through the mosaic and the overall effect is brighter, an aspect that is also achieved through the use of light colours and an appropriate lighting engineering design. This is a "skin" that radically changes the atmosphere, yet at the same time it maintains the existing shapes with just slight variations. Moreover, it is the only technology that makes it possible to clad a system of such complex forms at an affordable cost. The shapes of the additional elements, the lighting units, the signs, the waiting areas and the seating are somehow extrapolated from the theme of the station, a theme of dynamism in which the concept of physical motion is united with the concept of the movement of information and contemporary communication that intersects with a historic idea of the approach to the place. In fact, the entrances are characterised by visible, physical or decorative works so that, as in the medieval city, they are easy to recognise and memorise.
The spatial design Alongside the conceptual and aesthetic project, there has also been a strong desire to improve the extant structure on a technical level by enhancing the availability of space. In order to achieve these objectives, the choice was made to focus the design on a few effective lines of action:
Lighting On the platform, an increase in the brightness value has been planned in conjunction with the arrival of the trains on the tracks, where the function of the lights is to emphasise the signs. All the lighting engineering acts essentially through refraction on the ceiling and direct lighting on the flooring.
The new functions Restaurant booths. Vending areas. New storage lockers.
Comfort Reduced noise on the platforms by insulating the false ceiling. High-grip flooring (R11). Ergonomic seating. Visual relaxation using light and relaxing colors.
Safety Installation of mirrors to see behind the columns. Creation of new elements with shapes that improve the line of sight to foster safety.
The flow of traffic The shapes of the additional booths and walls are all designed to facilitate the flow of pedestrian traffic. The size of the hallways maintains the minimum dimensions that were measured.
Cleanliness All the surfaces that have been chosen are easy to clean, also with an eye to lower maintenance costs.
Accessibility to utilities All the parts that do not ensure easy access to utilities (e.g. false ceiling) will be replaced.
Return on investment In architectural terms, all the design choices are based on long-term use.
A high-quality image Redesign of the style of all the visible elements: illuminated advertising, seating, display cases, display windows, lighting fixtures, columns, steel mirrors, sign elements on the platforms. The system of objects defined by the project can be standardised and used also for other stations.
Added to these lines of action are works to optimise the aeration system and the commercial communication system, highlight the entrances and facilitate the identification of the trains through specific decorations and illuminated signs.
