New Integrated Complex Within Bologna Centrale Station

Within the framework of the broader background outlined in previous section, the purpose of the competition is the development of the preliminary plan of the New Integrated Complex within Bologna Centrale station. The design shall meet the needs of Bologna metropolitan area and of the FS Group, according to the principles set in the Agreement of July 18th 2006 and in particular shall pursue the main aim of developing a new part of town through the achievement of a new metropolitan functional centre. This aim is expressed in three priority duties that the design shall fulfil:

- to organize the new functions efficiently;
- to redevelop the town fabric surrounding the Railway area;
- to connect town areas separate from each other.

From the functional viewpoint, the new integrated complex shall link functions for railway users, according to the different services performed: national and international, regional and metropolitan, acting as intermodal exchange among different public and private transport facilities, envisaged with the above-mentioned town functions. In particular we wish to stress the importance that the new integrated complex will have as metropolitan transport junction, by converging the 8 lines covering the whole metropolitan territory on it, according to an operating model described in annex No. 10 to these Regulations. The new part of town shall express the quality of urban and metropolitan centrality: a place marked by multifunctionality, easy accessibility for pedestrians, cyclers and for public transport, easily attended by a variety of users, in which buildings or structures of historic, old and architectural value act as elements of identity.

The design program contains all these elements, as potentials that have to be co-ordinated and developed in the best possible way, aimed at a centrality linked with different environments: the one of neighbouring districts, urban environment, metropolitan environment and national and international environment. The design shall consider the activities already included in the restored historic station (Grandi Stazioni Design) and those envisaged for the new High-Speed terminal, by integrating their functions and, if necessary, by optimizing their uses.

To this end, we wish to specify that, waiting for the construction of the part above ground level, which shall therefore be its natural completion, the High-Speed station, currently under construction, envisages a temporary access along via Carracci. The connection between historic station and High-Speed station shall be provided at a certain height (bridge) and shall include the main accesses at North-west and South-east vertices, according to a flow directrix linking the High Speed side towards the new square of Mercato-Navile urban compartment and the side of (square) piazza XX settembre, towards the historic centre.

The design shall also envisage high efficiency levels as to environmental sustainability, thus minimizing the impact of the new buildings and paying particular attention to the reduction of energy consumption and to the use of alternative energy sources.