Busstation Tilburg

Minimalist and green 

The basis of the bus station is a series of slender column pairs, on which a steel canopy structure covered with ETFE foil has been mounted. The structure forms an elongated triangular circuit with the bus stands along the outer edge. The heart of the circuit is open. Here, green zones with plants have been included, surrounded by a seating edge for the travellers.

At the broad head of the bus station, there is a pavilion in the heart of the circuit. It contains a staff room for the bus drivers, a public-transport service point and a commercial area with an adjoining raised terrace.

Platforms roof covering 

The spacious canopy covers the entire platform area and part of the bus stands. This way, passengers are always sheltered when boarding and disembarking.

During the day, the canopy filters the sunlight, while in the hours of darkness, it forms one large spacious lighting element. This contributes greatly to the feeling of security. On top of the canopy, there is 250 m² of solar panels.

Integration in the structure 

A great deal of attention has been paid to achieving integral, elementary organization, materialization and detailing. For example, the columns contain both the drainpipes and the electrical cabling. The digital information boards are attached invisibly to the columns. The SOS notifier and intercom are also integrated into one of the columns.

Functionality of the canopy 

A steel frame forms the canopy’s central load-bearing stability beam, and at the same time functions as a gutter. The drainage holes have also been used for securing the ETFE foil. The pavilion building contributes to the stability of the canopy.

Movement sensors have been incorporated into the steel edge of the canopy every 14 metres. These react to the presence of buses and passengers. In this way, there is always sufficient lighting, while energy consumption is minimal.