Urban–Spatial Analysis of European Historical Railway Stations: Qualitative Assessment of Significant Cases (original) (raw)
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Next stop: Tertiarization - Railway developments in post-war European cities
Cities in Europe, Cities in the World – 12th International Conference on Urban History: proceedings, 2014
During the post-war period the railway infrastructures in Europe were subjected to extreme transformations, regarding not only the reconstruction of the railway lines and all the structures related that were destroyed during the Second World War but also the start and restart of many projects that were delayed by the war. Among these, the construction of diametric underground urban lines as well as new central stations took a special role in the urban development of the second half of the twentieth century, triggering the long-lasting planing and construction of large urban areas which became almost completely devoted to tertiary activities due to the mechanisms of the economical development during the Welfare state era. Taking as examples cities as Brussels (Belgium) with the Jonction Nord-Midi, Madrid (Spain) with the three Túneles de la risa and Lyon (France) with the business district of La Part-Dieu and its railway station, we aim to show the different urban phenomena that come with construction of the new railway infrastructures in attractive urban areas in the post-war period. Thus, we will consider the changes in urban landscape, considering how these infrastructural developments were important to determine a newer image for these cities and to (re)shape most of the public spaces, structures and buildings related with them. We will also identify the role of the different actors involved with these projects, not only architects and engineers but also the authorities, the real estate developers, social movements and others, that deeply influenced the shape of both the cities and the transportation infrastructures. Finally, we will make an evaluation of the importance of these structures and buildings related for today's cities.
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Train stations are places of connection in our cities and are the gateways of urban space. They represent one of the most exciting places to experience. Some stations make great destinations offering shops, restaurants, museums and exhibition spaces to commuters. While new architecture at railway stations acknowledges heritage, the urban spaces around them provide excellent public areas and rationalise functional needs. Grand spaces with monumental structures, including constant movement of people and trains makes for an exhilarating experience. Modern or historic, great train stations add another level of excitement in the regeneration of our cities. Adding into the mix of the sustainability paradigm, place making of railway stations transforms into sustainable urban centres and signature architecture, but how does it support an environmentally sustainable future? This paper reflects the journey of exploring the challenging situations of balancing the requirements between historic, operational, functional, economic and innovative sustainable design solutions during the Flinders Street Station Design Competition in Melbourne. The author highlights how the unique spatial, social and cultural circumstance of this world-renowned city railway station possesses specific resilient and sustainable design answers to a public realm and city space that challenges established thinking.
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The progressive modernization of the railway infrastructure has caused many lines (both active and disused) to progressively leave apart a series of railway buildings (some of them, architectural and civil engineering elements of great value), with their use already obsolete or without the main function which they were intended for. The high cost of maintenance leads them to a progressive state of margination, neglect and decay. This paper discusses various elements of the railway heritage, particularly the stations and their auxiliary buildings, their context and the way to put them in value, according to the needs of the society and the territory in which they are set. The railway heritage represents potentially an added value that can be assumed, correctly managed, be the drive shaft of a new function that ensures the future of the stations and serve as the main driving force and enhancer for the active development of a community or territory. For this, the analysis of the territorial strategy, the new energetic and social model and the existing potential in the closer areas will play a key role in achieving, through a new strategic role demanded by society, a self-management of architectural (constructed) railway heritage.
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The aim of this essay is to focus on the integration of railroads and stations in the urban context, drawing particular attention to the architectural approach and touching upon the way new forms of interaction with the existing cities can be envisioned. Starting with some historical premises about the matter, one excellent example from the past will be illustrated, the Vienna’s Stadtbahn by Otto Wagner. This project is still very contemporary with regard to the approach towards integration of railroads and cities. The final reflection will be addressing the stations of Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Sloterdijk. Some of the themes, very clearly tackled by Wagner’s project, are actually very fruitful contribution particularly when thinking about several spatial but also functional challenges that current stations and station areas bring about.
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The article analyses the transformations that have affected Italian railway stations in recent decades. The first part deals with the history of the railway station and is devoted to understanding its functions as well as its social and symbolic meanings. The construction of railways had a significant impact on the urban form: it created new centralities and fractures and conditioned the development of the city. The railway station represented a novelty from an architectural point of view, being a space in which architectural and engineering knowledge merged. Because of their importance and monumentality, railway stations have been likened to cathedrals of modernity and movement and have been among the most important public spaces in the twentieth century. The second part of the article focuses on railway station renovation projects, in particular the «Grandi Stazioni» project, viewing it in the broader context of the profound changes in urban policies, which are increasingly orient...
Reuse of Historical Train Station Buildings: Examples from the World and Turkey
The alterations occurring in social building due to developing technology and globalism also affect architecture by resulting in the conservation, rehabilitation and reuse of the architectonic buildings. Among the buildings that will be conserved, the industrial heritage is one of the most significant conservational topics which previously had no interest but testified a great period of time. Today, the contribution of industrialization to the social life together with architecture can also be observed by the help of these buildings. Meanwhile, the railway buildings are the first industrial heritage buildings built widespread in all countries by the invention of the locomotive. The ones that are still alive today have been re-built or restored in parallel to the developing technology and continued their original functions by the help of new additions adopted on these buildings. This situation is also same for Turkey. The objective of this paper is to give information about the reuse...