Benthem Crouwel Architects + West 8 win Brno Station competition

The largest design contest in the history of the Czech Republic has concluded, with the city of Brno selecting the team of Tenderstream member Benthem Crouwel Architects together with West 8 as winners of the competition to create the city’s new multimodal hub, urban realm and station quarter. The contest attracted a field of 46 applicants, with twelve design teams selected to participate in the contest. Competing firms also included Tenderstream members Grimshaw, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, OMA, Bjarke Ingels Group, MVSA and KCAP.

The jury praised the winning design for its references to the area’s historic public buildings, combined with the creation of a modern transport hub and high quality public space. From the platform, a first glimpse of Brno’s cathedral is offered through the monumental arches of the station building. Passengers are guided through the central concourse towards a pedestrian promenade that connects the hub to the city. A boulevard aligned with city blocks and workspaces follows the station to the river, where the Svratka waterfront park continues.

Martin Biewinga, partner of West 8, said: “The station represents a marvellous opportunity to create a new and vibrant district in Brno. The simple and elegant design of Brno’s new railway station will be the catalyst and new heart of the new city. Tree-lined boulevards connect the station with the City centre and the Cathedral with the Svratka River Park.”

The environmentally aware design integrates rainwater management, filtered daylight, natural ventilation, and low temperature floor heating and cooling based on a reversible heat pump connected to a geothermal source. A convex glass canopy over the train platforms and bus station shelters passengers, while collecting solar energy in order to create a net-positive station.

Pascal Cornips, partner at Benthem Crouwel, stated: “The new Brno main station is both grand and human, monumental and tangible. Our design combines a straightforward, yet very comfortable platform canopy with a sensual station building.”

The completion of the station is expected between 2032 and 2035.

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 04.09.2020 here

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