Architecture & urbanism(rev)
Overview
Architecture and urbanism refer to the form of the station stucture and how it relates to the surrounding urban environment. These are often governed by planning regulations and considerations include:
Massing, height, form, and bulk
Context and heritage
Severance and connectivity
Mix of uses
Natural light
Landscaping
Building operations
Sustainable building
Massing, height, form, and bulk
These elements refer to how the mass of the station and any accompanying development is distributed, for example in a tall building. Some recent station developments have included larger buildings as profitable components of public-private partnerships to deliver transport infrastructure. These elements form a large part of a development's response to its context, as described in the next section.
In a lively urban context, good urbanism requires a building to 'meet the street' properly, at human scale, providing interest and detail at eye level (for example shops, windows, or architectural detail) rather than a blank wall.
Context and heritage
New station elements should complement the scale and materials of any adjacent heritage structures.
London's view corridors [link to London View Management Framework] need to be considered, particularly with tall buildings.
Severance and connectivity
Rail tracks can create a major barrier to connectivity. Crossing points and levels should be carefully considered to minimise severance. Connectivity covers local pedestrian movement issues such as crossing points and desire lines (see Routes to and from) as well as provision of forecourts.
Mix of uses
Station developments may include retail and housing components; the station or forecourt itself often contains retail; and the development must respond sensitively to surrounding uses, for example quiet residential areas.
Surrounding uses can have a strong bearing on personal security and perception of safety. For example, retail can activate an otherwise deserted streetscape. Residences with windows and doors overlooking the area around the station also provide a sense of security.
Natural light
Natural light helps create a pleasant interior environment through size and placement of windows. For new stations and major modifications, the site analysis process should consider the sun path. Natural light can create dramatic effects, for example at Canary Wharf Station.
Landscaping
Lanscaping, both hard and soft, can play a key role in connecting a station structure to its surrounding urban environment.
Building operations and maintenance
A station's operational areas and systems should be convienently placed without impairing the customer experience.
Sustainable Building
Please see
Sustainable building.