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Architect Assen Station Design Architecture Groningen
Station Assen
Assen's new front door
© Marcel IJzerman & Powerhouse Company
Station
Role in team
Assistant Designer
Architectural firm
DeZwarteHond
The renewed station area in Assen now welcomes travelers with a unique wooden structure. The new station building is characterized by a triangular wooden roof that appears to float. With this iconic gesture, we connect the tracks and the city in one fell swoop. Our new wooden structure adds a touch of magic to this everyday city site and makes it seem as though the roof is floating above the new Assen Station. Together with De Zwarte Hond, we have transformed the station with this extraordinary wooden structure. The new car tunnel outside the station has made it possible to create a traffic-free public space.
© Sabastian van Damme
Iconic entrance
The Assen Station used to be a transit station where the city remained invisible to travelers. The municipality of Assen asked us, together with our partner De Zwarte Hond, to create a new, transparent and inviting station that would remove the barrier of the tracks. The result is our new all-round building, which is connecting, transparent and sustainable, and equally inviting from every angle. The striking triangular geometry of the roof gives the building a strong identity, organizes the program, and creates a strong connection with the urban context.
The Eternal Triangle
The detached buildings under the wooden roof construction offer space for commercial and station-related functions. A logical organization of the functions results in an open and accessible station. The station functions as a public square marking the start of the main route to the city center. Outside, a new car tunnel has created a pedestrian-friendly station area with greenery, minimal impact of cars, and a pleasant human scale.
©Powerhouse Company
Ensemble of brick, wood and glass
The detached buildings are made of purple-red tinted facade bricks to match the red clinker station floor. In contrast to the canopy, the buildings are rounded in the corners.
The wooden canopy creates a warm, inviting atmosphere for travelers. It is not only sustainable; it also fits in with the green character of the city of Assen and its surroundings.
A beautiful dynamic interplay of lines
Sunlight falls through openings in the roof on the platforms and the station hall. This provides natural and pleasant lighting.
© Sabastian van Damme
©Powerhouse Company
The station as a public plaza
The triangular station roof spans the newly expanded railway completely, playing a key role in connecting the eastern and western parts of the city. In addition to its functional aspect, pavilions have also been built for commercial and station functions. The pavilions feature a steel support structure and brick facades with rounded corners. The design allows for flexibility in adapting the program underneath, making it suitable for future changes.
Red carpet to the city
The partially glazed purple/red bricks blend perfectly with the red brick pavement and the red granite in the station hall. The transparent facades create long sightlines through the station, rolling out the so-called "red carpet" for the public. This has created a pedestrian-friendly station area with a high-quality green layout, minimal impact of cars, and a pleasant human scale. All of this contributes to a modern, sustainable, and functional station with an inviting and warm atmosphere.
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