Nyugati Railway Station - design competition

Location:  District VI, Budapest

Area: 44 ha

Year: 2022

Client: BFK - Budapest Development Agency 

Joint Design and Team Lead: Gateways and Sweco Architects AB

Collaborators: TSPC, Bollinger + Grohmann Engineers Kft., Systematica S.r.l., 

Bartenbach GmbH, Mannvit, Biopolus, Tomlin Ltd.

Visualizations: Brick Visuals, Gateways

Status: design competition

Nyugati Railway Station - design competition

Location:  District VI, Budapest

Area: 44 ha

Year: 2022

Client: BFK - Budapest Development Agency 

Joint Design and Team Lead: Gateways and Sweco Architects AB

Collaborators: TSPC, Bollinger + Grohmann Engineers Kft., Systematica S.r.l., 

Bartenbach GmbH, Mannvit, Biopolus, Tomlin Ltd.

Visualizations: Brick Visuals, Gateways

Status: design competition

 

The Renewal of Nyugati Railway Station and its surroundings represents a yet another unique moment in the deeply layered history of this part of the city of Budapest and serves as a testament to the evolution of this grand heritage building and its ability to withstand the test of time.
While the history books illustrate an impressive story of transformation, now the Nyugati Railway Station looks forward to a new chapter and once again becomes a catalyst for change, that the people of Budapest can continue to be proud of.

 

The golden age of railway historically provided many positive transformations for the city, forming an important hub with well-integrated transport networks, however this has also led to a separation of the surrounding dense urban fabric by the railway operation area.
In response to the need for urban integration this design proposal speaks less of creating grand iconic structures and alternatively injects vibrant and exciting interventions, while also aiming to heal this part of the city, providing an urban transformation of the densely built up area.

 

This will be achieved by providing powerful connectivity across districts, a new & dynamic TOD (Transit Oriented Development) interchange, climate corridors, green buildings and new large scale green urban forest that many of the local residents can benefit from.

 

Improving the connectivity within the city of Budapest, with particular reference to connecting Districts VI and XIII is an important design characteristic not only of the new masterplan for Nyugati Green District but also of the project structure as a whole. The design proposal aims at diversifying this part of the city and confront the challenge of providing ample quality green urban public space along with substantial building development volume for a commercially viable and attractive urban district with memorable architecture.

 

The design proposal, as presented for the development of the station and its surrounding area, ensures that the Eiffel Hall will continue to play an essential role in the overall station complex. The new city interventions are considered as a series of extensions that respectfully relate to the historic hall and maintain the Eiffel Hall as the Jewel in the Crown of the station complex, and the entire city.