This intersection between a major railway line and a huge esplanade, which forms part of a green corridor between the north and the south of the new built-up area, forms the central hub for the international and regional railway station and the bus station, offering full facilities, as well as the passenger car park and urban public transport system – the tramways, buses and taxis on the Boulevard de Hollerich. This landmark building has a prominent, easily recognisable urban feature: a glass canopy rising above the Hauptpassage and covering the four sets of stairs, escalators and lifts leading up to the four railway platforms. The glass canopy, cantilevered towards the Boulevard de Hollerich, opens above the northern entrance to the Hauptpassage, while its wave-like forms envelop the platforms and mark its southern edge.
This central passage under the railway tracks is designed as the heart of the new neighbourhood and, while retaining its linking function, it provides a range of services not only for passengers, but also for those entering from outside. Daylight streams through long slits in the roof slab lighting the interior. On the western side these slits broaden into a huge opening which runs the length of the bus station, providing natural light while sheltering it from the weather. The same system of roof openings lets daylight into the side passage.
The project retains most of the existing embankment, but includes a viaduct running along the northern side. While remaining independent and unconnected, the two structures allow the railway track to be widened, increasing the number of platforms to four, two of which are used for international trains and two for regional services. Beneath the viaduct, starting from the eastern end, are the side passage, the passenger car park, the central passage, the bus station and the entrance and parking area for the hotel and administrative building with its underground car park, both of which are located at the far western end.
The hotel and administrative building have been broadly outlined, but in an open fashion, given that they represent a part of the project which will undoubtedly still be subject to extensive consideration in terms of function and cost during the future development of the project.
