Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station

View of both the platforms of the Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station.

Project Details

• Project Name: Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station
• Client: VGF - Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main mbH
• Project Type: Architectural design
• Principal Designer: Julian Andreas Schoyerer, Jorg Artmann, Michael Schick
• Year of commencement of project: 2002
• Year of completion of project: 2005
• Location of site: Frankfurt - Heddernheim, Germany
• Project Cost: Euros 2,500,000

The design attempts to establish the presence of the station with its erratic urban context.

The Building

The Frankfurt - Heddernheim tram station lies between major traffic arteries.

Crossing the southern side of the station is the large Maybach Bridge while to its east lies a sport complex including an outdoor swimming pool.

A public bus station forms the western boundary of the site while to the west and north a series of housing blocks are located.

Pronounced cubic volumes accentuated by dynamic lighting emerge as the signature elements if the design.

The station was in need of a general renovation, as part of this process the main platform was raised to allow for disabled access.

It was clear from the very start that a large clearly defined form was required to establish the desired presence in a complex and confusing urban context.

The cubic form hence developed sits on slender columns and functions as both a roof and a "signal".

The roof intentionally pays reference to the city works as providers of energy and modern transport systems while also acting as a beacon for the many thousand of passengers who pass through the station every day.

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Site Plan [opens in a pop-up window - 32kb image]

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Platform Elevations [opens in a pop-up window - 24kb image]

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Section 1 [opens in a pop-up window - 17kb image]

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Section 2 [opens in a pop-up window - 21kb image]

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Section 3 [opens in a pop-up window - 24kb image]

View of the glazed kiosk on the city bound platform.

The station roof is a combination of a primary structure of steel beams resting on irregularly placed columns.

The irregularity of these columns allows for access by stairs to a pedestrian tunnel while also providing a free space at the nodal points of pedestrian traffic.

This primary structure is clad in industrial expanded aluminum panels.

Depending on the angle of view the roof appears as either transparent or closed and monolithic; if two oppositely adjacent panels are viewed simultaneously a moire effect comes into play.

The colors of the cube change in response to movement of the trams through the station.

A series of standard fluorescent lamps are set behind the expanded aluminum panels.

These are programmed to respond to the movements of the trains on each platform.

As a train approaches the station, the color of the light changes from yellow to orange. While the train is stationary the color remains constant. Once the train begins to leave the station the light reverts back to a yellow tone.

The opposite platform is similarly programmed with the light changing from blue to green. Additional color changes are also possible.

Frankfurt - Heddernheim Tram Station - Light Detail [opens in a pop-up window - 30kb image]

Both platforms are accessible by a protected over ground route underneath the Maybach Bridge.

On the city bound platform a new fully glazed kiosk with the character of a small shop has been built.

This glass cube is protected at night with metal mash panels. Colored metal behind this mesh offers additional protection.

The kiosk has a large cantilevered concrete roof, which provides a dry area between the platform and the Maybach Bridge.

The main concrete wall of the kiosk is realized in black exposed concrete with a hammer finish on its surface.

The renovated station has complete disabled access. Both platforms are accessible either by a pedestrian tunnel or by a protected over ground route underneath the Maybach Bridge.

Credits

• Text by Julian Andreas Schoyerer, Courtesy of the architect
• Photographs by Gerhard Kassner, Courtesy of the architect
• Compiled and edited by Manish Mehta