Graz Main Station is being converted into a modern transport hub as part of an infrastructure project. By 2020, an urban transport centre will emerge around the station belt and the “Europaplatz” in Austria’s second largest city. A key component of this project is a newly designed station forecourt with a large canopy. Dubbed the “Golden Eye” by the citizens of Graz, the oval roof structure links the station concourse with the bus stops and protects the entrances to the tram stops situated underground.
Because the station building is listed as a historic monument, the oval canopy had to be designed as a self-supporting and independent element.
Like the extravagant shape, the choice of material is also unusual: The bottom surface is covered by individual composite aluminium panels. They reflect the dynamics of the surroundings, making them appear as in a film.
On each of these elements, BEGA ceiling mounted downlights with symmetrical-wide beam light distribution produce a successful illumination of the forecourt. They intensify they reflections from the sub-structure so that the roof seems to hover. Through their semi-recessed installation, the luminaires are uniformly integrated in the aluminium elements and become part of the exceptional architecture. They convince by their linear design and impressive illumination of one of Austria’s most important transport hubs.
Client Holding Graz Linien Architecture Zechner & Zechner ZT GmbH, Vienna Landscape architecture 3:0 Landschaftsarchitektur, Vienna Photos Thilo Härdtlein, Munich
