M4 Fővám tér | sporaarchitects

The new metro line planned in Budapest is to connect South-Buda with the city center.10 stations is constructed in the first step, the line is 7,34 km long. The main character of the stations is defined by the cut-and cover technology, resulting in large underground boxes for the stations. The architectural decision was to clear this boxes keeping only the necessary rough structures in the headspace of the stations. Thus huge reinforced concrete beams can be lit by natural light from above, if possible, providing an extraordinary effect in the deep stations. After winning the architectural competition Palatium involved for the ten stations 5 architectural offices, Palatium itself worked as a general designer and, besides, responsible for 4 stations. The 2nd - Budapesti Műhely Ltd. - and 3rd - Puhl Antal pítészirodája Ltd. -prize winners of the competition became involved, as well. Other co-partners became Sporaarchitects Ltd. and Gelesz and Lenzsér Ltd. To handle the urban context, s73 Ltd. were involved, as landscape architects. The engineering companies were defined by the client, as FŐMTERV-UVATERV consortium had wide experiences on the topic. The co-operation of architects led to the definition of a kind of general design philosophy in terms of architectural language, main functional systems, use of materials, structural and mechanical systems. The use of natural light in the stations was a main issue for most of the stations. Besides that, each architect had a certain freedom to find the best solution on the given sites. Architects were mainly responsible to co-ordinate the several issues of this complex work. The main character of the stations is defined by the cut-and cover technology, resulting in large underground boxes for the stations. The common architectural decision was to clear this boxes keeping only the necessary rough structures in the headspace of the stations. This huge reinforced concrete beams can be lit by natural light from above, if possible, providing an extraordinary effect in the deep stations. Fővám tér station is one of the deepest stations of the line; it is situated below the bank of river Danube on the Pest side, the surface area being part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The station is in a very special situation, because of its place in the city and because of the Duna River. Structural design of the station is determined by the vertical alignment of the line. The depth of the platform level is 36 m from the surface. The Fővám tér station is composed of a cut-and-cover box and tunnels. Only a complex structural system could fulfil the requirements emerging from the proximity of the Danube and the given construction site. The complexity of the structure is even greater, since here a new tunnel for the tramline and a new pedestrian subway has to be constructed. The Fővám tér station is more than a simple metro station, it is a complex traffic junction of the city, an interchange spot for tramways, buses, metro, ships, cars and pedestrians, which altogether create a unique spacey public space above and under the ground. Fővám tér metro station is new multilevel city junction, gateway of the historic downtown of Budapest. The box is supported by 4 levels of reinforced concrete beams, which structure is made like a net. There are three layers of this network; they keep the walls of the box like a bone-structure. The design of the box is determined by this visible concrete net-structure. In the main front of the box, which is a concrete wall covered with corten steel, runs the elevator with glass walls faced to the inside, in order to connect both visually and physically the parts of the building with the surface. In the other part the tunnels have curved cross section. The walls and the columns will be covered with mosaic tiles artwork reflecting to the Zsolnai ceramic tiles of Gellért hotel, which is nearby the site. Due to the construction technology, huge rooms have been created in the inner spaces of the stations. The section of the space is proportional to cross section of average street in downtown Pest, built in the eclectic period in the 19th century, so the station can be interpreted as an inverse street or square under the surface. Playing on natural light has been an important aspect in the architectural formation of the entire line. On the surface of Fővám tér a huge square will be created without traffic. This allows of locating glassy, crystalloid skylights, which let the sunlight reach the platform level, emphasizing the unique character of the beam network. The the architectural and structural concept of Fővám tér based on the indiscriminate beam grid and the underground bone texture combined with the organically implemented construction system were compatible without compromises with the often volatile and changing conditions of the planning and building processes. It was proved to be adjustable to all the emerging technical problems without having lost from its original force at all. It’s been highly inspiring to create spaces to be used with pleasure, so that the passengers might prefer the public transport somehow more. It’s important to emphasize that it’s supposed to be a public space – a public space under the ground. Also for that reason, the public activities are wellcome in the spaces of the stations, even during the time of the construction. People can use the space for art and new media related projects.