The 10 Most Amazing Station of the World!

Ever thought of the power a trainstation can have in a city?

Here are some of the most beautiful trainstations in the world.

10. Middelburg Station, Middelburg, the Netherlands

9. Atocha Station, Madrid

8. Hua Hin Railway Station, Thailand

7. Centrail Railway Station, Maputo, Mozambique 

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6. Lahore Railway Station, Pakistan

5. Gare des Bénédictins, Limoges 

4. Central Station, Antwerp

3. Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mumbai

2. Grand Central Terminal, New York

1. St. Pancras, London

"That's one small step for a Antwerp, one giant leap for the Central Station"

Antwerp

On the 7^th of March we started our research by visiting Antwerp. Arriving in Antwerp we had one mission which was divided up into three locations. Our mission was to investigate how the area around the Central Station has changed ever since the renewal of the Central Station.

The three locations around the central station which we looked at were the Klevitwijk, the Keyserlei and the Athenemeumbuurt.

We started our investigation at the central station. It was clearly noticeable that the Central station was supposed to emit a relaxing atmosphere. There were coffee shops and lunchrooms available inside the station. Further away from the central hall there was the Diamond Gallery filled with tiny jewelry shops. Our first impression was that the central station (at around 11:00) was very quiet.

Our second location was the Klevitwijk. Our impression of this area was that the Klevitwijk seemed to have no connection with the central station. The buildings had a different expression compared massive train station. While walking through the area we stumbled upon the Kievetsnest. The Kievetsnest occupied the Provincial church in order to stop it from being demolished. When we looked further into the activities of the Kievetsnest, we saw that they have slowed down the process of renovation.  On our way back, we did see that one block office buildings rose from the ground.

The third location was the Athenemeumbuurt. Before arriving in this area, we passed through a street of Casinos and an Asian street. It quickly became clear to us that this was Antwerp’s multicultural district. Arriving at the Coninckplein, the first building which stood out from the other buildings was a public library called Permeke. It was only until after we left the library that we saw how useful a library actually was. Inside the library a man, Klaas van Gorp, was able to help us extremely well with all the questions we had about the library and the area around it. In short it was possible to conclude that the library had a very positive effect on the neighborhood.

The Keyserlei was the fourth and last location we visited. There was nothing much to see yet, since it was still under construction. We were however informed that the Keyserlei would turn into a car-free zone, making it friendlier for all the people coming out of the Central station. The Keyserlei will eventually connect with the Operaplein, where it will also turn into pedestrian-zone.

In conclusion, our day was very successful.  We received information from locals who we able to give us a better view of the past, and we were able to speak with Klaas van Gorp who researched the library and the area, and Tom Vinck, who was part of the city designing team of the municipality.

We were also tipped by the library that the book Centraal Station Spoorwegkathedraal by Stan Wagemans would be a really helpful book which could give us a lot of information.

http://zeelandboeken.pzc.wegenerwordpress.nl/geschiedenis/centraal-station-spoorwegkathedraal/

Antwerp and Rotterdam Field Study – Urban City Center Revitalization – The Case of Central Station Renewal

Dear Readers,

Antwerp Central Station

We are more than glad to announce our research proposal to you, so without taking any more of your time, we hear by present you our research proposal! 

Btw, stay tuned, soon we'll be investigating Antwerp, and we'll give you an update on that as well! 

Luuk, Fieke, Geert and Wouter

Our goal for this field study is to look at how the Central Station has an effect on the city. Often a central station when it is renewed can handle more capacity, however there much be a lot more to it if a city decides to invest millions or euros into a train station. 

Rotterdam Central Station

We will (if possible) meet up with someone of the Antwerp municipality to ask him several questions about the renewal and how it is has changed the city, with an economic, social and environmental perspective. Our goal for Rotterdam is to meet up someone from the train station who has designed the train station, and this person is also willing to tour us through the new building, so that we can hear his story about the design. (This arrangement is still in process)

Antwerp/Rotterdam Field Study – Urban City Centre Revitalization – The Case of Central Station/area Renewal.

Central research question: To what extent have the objectives and purposes been achieved of the renewal of the Central Station redevelopment of Antwerp and Rotterdam?

Subquestions:

·         What were the original objectives, ideals, purposes behind the zone planning of the Central Stations Area (CSA)?

o   Were there alternative plans as well? (such as in the South Axis)

·         What was the Cost and Benefit Analysis for both the CSA’s?

·         Has Antwerp achieved its goals, money-wise, social-wise, time-wise

o   What kind of effects did the CSA of Antwerp experience?

§  What kind of change has Antwerp seen in district with the east side

o   What kind of problems did the CSA of Antwerp experience?

§  How have these problems been encountered and dealt with?

·         Has Rotterdam achieved its goals or mid-period goals?

o   What kind of problems/effects did Rotterdam already experience?

o   Can Antwerp be used to predict problems that occur or might occur?

o   How will the city on the south side change? (Urban, commercial or reputation wise)

·         The end?

Important topics/themes for the analysis, both theoretical and practical:

 Cost-Benefit-Analysis, Social Interaction, Pedestrian flows, Multifunctional/synergist buildings, zone planning, TOD: Transit Orientated Development, Main-city-hub, Main-city-district, multifunctional district planning

Future of Utrecht Central Station 

Trains stations which are currently under construction and which we have looked at to look for similarities:

Utrecht:
http://www.cu2030.nl/index.php?uid=1170

Breda:
http://www.breda.nl/gemeente/nieuws/breda-berichten/informatiedag-bouw-nieuwe-station-breda-0

Future of Breda Central Station

Rotterdam:
http://www.rotterdam.nl/rotterdamcentraal