Connecting infrastructure, open spaces with flora and fauna, and the urban environment.
From the very beginning of the development of the new Altach railway station, all project partners pursued a holistic approach in which the preservation, enhancement, and integration of the surrounding open spaces were just as much a priority as the efficient connection of different modes of transport at the new station.
Rail, bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic were integrated into a light and transparent structure to create space for a new culture of transferring to public transport and active mobility. Accessibility for everyone, short walking distances between bus and train, a bright pedestrian underpass, two new elevators, weather-protected platforms, tactile guidance systems, a spacious forecourt with a bus stop and Bike+Ride facilities are the main design elements. Externally, the building is characterized by screens made of weathered steel frames with timber slat cladding, which serve as visual protection for the Bike+Ride parking spaces while also providing seating in the public space.
The new forecourt, paved with light beige asphalt, is embedded within a shared space where all road users have equal priority and the speed limit is 20 km/h.
Taking the existing tree population into account, mature trees were integrated into the redesign, creating a seamless connection between nature and modern infrastructure. Generous open spaces planted with moor grass and sedges create an atmosphere that changes with the seasons and weather, while approximately 1,700 m² of wildflower meadow east of the tracks extend into the surrounding agricultural landscape.
The scale of the planning and interventions, as well as their sphere of influence, was aimed at ensuring the long-term ecological and social sustainability of this infrastructure project.
Collaboration: Land Rise Landscape Architecture
The platform canopies are hybrid steel and timber structures with aluminum soffits.
A total of 270 bicycle parking spaces are available for cyclists, with 80 bicycle lockers in preparation. In addition, 11 new parking spaces for single-track motor vehicles have been created.
