Santiago de Compostela AVE Station

Location: Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Client: Adif and Santiago de Compostela City Council

Date: 2011 Restricted Competition

Total Area: 7500m2

Budget: €24.9 million

Team credits:

Partner in Charge: Alejandro Zaera-Polo

Design Team: Pep Wennberg, Robert Berenguer, Ravi Lopes, Guillermo Fernandez-Abascal, Manuel Eijo, Alicia Villagrá, Tomas Hallander, Eduardo Sanz de Acedo, Cristina Galmés

The building is configured as a bridge over the tracks, containing the program required by ADIF and linking different elements of the new and existing construction and the east side of the city. With a linear north-south development, and the minimum depth and height established by ADIF standards, the project achieves: on one hand, connection between the southern edge of the city and the Clara Campoamor Street (outskirts of Santiago), and on the other hand reducing the visual impact of the station.

The bridge structure starts on the north side, with street-level access from the Horreo Street (level +228). This addresses a historical problem of access from this road to the station. The bridge has as first support a service access core, projecting alongside the existing station. The existing building is adapted to accommodate ADIF offices, control rooms and other restricted areas of the station. The existing canopy (level +221) serves as new access from the taxi drop-off, the kiss & ride and the main entrance from the station car park. Thus, we segregate the traffic in two levels: cars (+221) and pedestrians (+228). Both spaces are interrelated with a big opening that allows natural light to illuminate the lower floors and maintains the relevance of the historic stone facade.

The bridge station is structured mainly in two longitudinal stripes: the central body, as lobby and circulation space for passengers, and west area, with shops and the boarding area. The platforms are accessible from these spaces through staircases and lifts.

The need shelter in the platforms and tracks, initiated by the existing metal canopy, is an opportunity to use the same strategy to cover the new station and its public spaces (ticket sales, customer service, cafeteria, toilets, offices, etc …).