La Spezia Centrale Railway Station | Paola Mori

The situation.

The actual central railway station ‘La Spezia Centrale’ has lost its strategic position in the infrastructural system  ; it’s reachable only by an unique way, often full of traffic, and it’s far away from the actual new town center and from the other ways of communication and lines of traffic (highway, docks )
We have other two railway station, but too small and only used for local traffic (La Spezia Migliarina) and for postal and transport (La Spezia Valdellora)
We need a more strategic pole to be the best link for rail traffic, boat services and public buses: so we have chosen an area that could be more ‘focal’ the actual station’s one.
 

The area.

We will realize our project inside the actual central hospital’s area, that’s closed by the rail area and the main streets next to the waterfront: thinking that this area is not ideal for it’s own actual use (cause of  traffic and noise), the local authority has decided to move the hospital to another area, leaving this one free.
The position of the area (right next to the waterfront, and with the railway on its back) makes it ideal for a new railway station, and the space on its east side appears ok to put here the bus station too. Postal and transport function will be put in the Migliarina station’s area, that’s better linked to the docks.
 

The other side of the project.

We also found that the suburban area of Valdellora has some difficulties in the lack of direct links to the urban center and of  public services: we mean to realize them opening  a direct large underpass (right back at the station’s hill) and ‘building’ a new road (using the old as a pedestrian way linking the two parts of this area) and a green space included public gardens, a little market plaza, and some building for local sanitary, administrative and recreation services).
In the area actually occupied by the Postal and the Water & Gas company offices, we will build some new buildings for these two services and for new residential spaces; this area will be open on its northwest side on a new urban green area, closed next to the railway with a space full of trees.
 

The new station.

This will be realized digging the hospital’s hill, keeping the central building up but restyling it for it’s new function and realizing a commercial gallery, a covered parking and a garden up on it.
Passing through the ‘glass shell square’ and the commercial gallery, we’ll reach the open space of the station square, from which we’ll have access to the primary services (ticket office, waiting space, public baths) on a first level, and to the secondary ones (café, restaurant) & railway on a second level.
On the side of Valdellora area, we’ll find the second station building, with a double level too.
Both the buildings will have a steel structure and glass cover.