Tilburg railway station

national monument 

The station building was designed by railway architect Koen van der Gaast between 1957 and 1965. That he conceived the station as a transit space rather than a destination was typologically innovative at the time. The expressive roof construction connects the station functions with each other and the station with the city in a grand gesture. Van der Gaast added no ornaments, but played with the graphic pattern of the construction and the aesthetic possibilities of the H-profile. The dynamic character of the canopy defines the atmosphere and contrasts with the rectangular buildings below.

The changes carried out in and around the station over time did the original architecture no favours. For instance, natural brickwork was painted yellow and sightlines and views into the station were interrupted. In general, platforms and interior spaces have become cluttered. Just by cepezed addressing this, the building brightens up. After the renovation, it was again clearly visible why Tilburg station was granted national monument status in 2014.

public passage 

The most radical change, during the renovation of the station, is the arrival of a public passage under the tracks: the station now also functions as a public connection, a function that fits well with Van der Gaast's original idea of the station as a thoroughfare. The passage also connects two previously relatively separate parts of the city - on the north side of the station was a closed factory site. On the city centre side, the passage gives access to the station hall with several steps. On the passage are various other functions, such as shops and a bicycle repair shop, in addition to ticket gates and access to the tracks. The dimensions of the façades on the passage are geared to Van der Gaast's 2,100-millimetre grid, as is the austere design - Van der Gaast designed all-glass façades in which hardly any window frames were visible. cepezed also took care to ensure long sightlines, so that you know where you are and feel safe. That the passage rises gradually at both ends, optically shortening the passage as well.

perron 4 

Platform 4 is an extra platform, which therefore needed its own canopy - Van der Gaast's large canopy did not reach that far. To do justice to the expressive shape of the monumental roof, cepezed opted for austere, straight forms for platform 4. Minimising obstacles on the platform provides maximum space for the traveller. All installations have been neatly concealed in the ceiling of a small platform roof, which is easily accessible for service and cleaning. A track of glass in the roof provides additional daylight. The platforms are screened by the lath structure of the north facade, by the outside of the bicycle shed and by a balustrade with a 'wire structure’.