14.03.14
Design decisions for New Street Station ‘all wrong’
Network Rail project managers on the £600m Birmingham New Street Station redevelopment have been attacked by one of its ex-architects for “making design decisions unilaterally and without proper analysis”.
Architect Alejandro Zaera-Polo, who quit design work on the project, told the Birmingham Mail that he fears for the future of the central atrium design, now to be undertaken by London-based Haskoll.
The architect, whose award-winning projectsinclude the Yokohama International Cruise Terminal in Japan, added: “This is not about Haskoll versus AZPML, although I believe that it is always much better to get the concept designer to design the details.
“I do not think it is possible to stick to the design concept using fabrics, because the design concept is about continuity of the arches as the elements that link the new roof with the existing structure of the building.”
He stated that because of fire regulations and durability, the fabric cannot be brought all the way to the ground, and this means the lower part of the arches, and the atrium elements, will have to be clad in some other fire-resistant material. However, he added that his firm AZPML will still be involved in the steel cladding of the project.
In response to Zaera-Polo’s comments, Network Rail said: “AZPML was involved in early concept design stages for the interior of the atrium.However, we have now chosen to work with Haskoll as interior design architect for the atrium and the Grand Central shopping centre.
“There are no plans to change the concept design of the atrium, which will flood Birmingham New Street station with natural light for the first time when completed. We are looking at alternative solutions for cladding the interior of the atrium more efficiently, but any change will not compromise the design or quality of the development.”
The £600m Birmingham New Street Station redevelopment project is being delivered by Network Rail with Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, Centro (the region's transport authority) and the Department for Transport (DfT). Known as the ‘Gateway Project’, it aims to increase the station's capacity and train facilities by 50% between Birmingham, London and Coventry, while reducing journey time from Birmingham to Scotland and Birmingham to Milton Keynes. Construction began in 2009 and is expected to be fully complete next year.
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