The Stadelhofen Station presented Calatrava with a unique chance to make a mark on a city: given that the site that the station was to occupy was problematic in a variety of ways, many other designers proposed that the entire area be roofed over and that the station be largely underground.
Calatrava, though, saw the various elevation changes and site's shape (an arc along it's entire length) as an opportunity to create a space that enhanced the site. The station he designed is left open, so that viewers can see the entire workings of the structure. The columns, created as references to limbs, reach out to hold the walkways above. Conceived as a collection of bridges, the project took full advantage of the dynamic qualities of the site.
Under the lower tracks lies a network of underground tunnels, for more protected travelling on foot. Being underground, though, does not preclude it from recieving light: Calatrava takes every chance to bring light into the spaces underneath the ground level.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
