Ede-Wageningen Train Station | Mecanoo

Mecanoo has released the final design for the Ede Wageningen Train Station in the Netherlands. The new station is designed to help thousands of commuters easily find their way, works as a gateway to the Veluwe National Park, it will also be a remarkable introduction to the city of Ede. The transport hub has been designed to respond to the growth in passenger numbers and make an expansion of services and facilities available. A striking wooden roof makes the station a unique and vibrant place, a well-integrated and characteristic destination where the comfort of travellers and local residents is put first. The project includes entrance squares to the bus station and train station hall, with detailed landscaping features that integrate the scheme into the surrounding context.

Courtesy from Mecanoo Architects

Qualities of place

The design for the station area takes its inspiration from the Veluwe landscape – the topography, landscape types, existing buildings and monuments. The building is nestled in the slopes of the moraine between the Veluwe Massif and the Gelderse Valley. Through the smart stacking of functions, such as the car park, bus station, retail facilities, and bicycle parking, commuters can easily transfer between different modes of transport. View lines in the design do not just support transfers, but also provide orientation across the surrounding environment. An example is the view of the historic barracks buildings on the north-side of the station, which is visually framed by the different levels within the station area.

Courtesy from Mecanoo Architects

Canopy

The open station roof covers the platforms like a canopy of leaves, providing shelter whilst letting diffused daylight enter freely. Together with the wooden clock tower, the roof is the station’s hallmark. The roof consists of wooden triangles and cascades over the bicycle parking, retail, and other station facilities, ending as the overhang of the main entrance. The roof connects the different quadrants of the transport hub in a uniform manner, resulting in all-sided orientation. Use of natural materials like wood, stone, glass and steel fit the Veluwe landscape. The sturdy detailing makes the design not only durable, but also resistant to vandalism.

Comfort, overview, and safety

The station has been designed for travellers, visitors and staff, prioritising their safety and comfort. Retail units are already visible in the pedestrian tunnel, allowing the walkway to benefit from the liveliness and visibility within the entrance domain. The shape of the roof and the platforms’ outfitting are designed to support the sightlines and orientation of travellers. From the platforms, all transport modes can be seen: the station square, buses, drop off zone, taxi rank, and bicycle parking. A large indoor parking facility has been integrated into the design and can accommodate up to 6,000 bicycles. A large car park is located at walking distance from the main entrance. Circulation routes are intuitive, covered and well-organised. The station is seamlessly integrated into the existing network of streets and roads, separating slow and fast traffic.

Programme Train station of 15.000 m2 with retail, offices, waiting rooms, loading bay, public facilities, and bicycle parking with up to 6,000 places; Park & Ride of 15,000 m2; station square and bus square of 8,600 m2; 1.2 hectares of landscaping Design team Mecanoo and Movares Design 2014-2016 Realisation 2018-2021 Client ProRail, NS, Municipality of Ede