Silvio d'Ascia Architecture to design new high-speed railway station in Morocco

An international team led by Paris-based Silvio d'Ascia Architecture with Omar Kobité Architecture and Eric Giudice, was recently selected to design the new high-speed railway station in Kénitra, Morocco -- a.k.a. Gare TGV de Kénitra. The winning team won the global competition that ran from 2012-2013.

The grand opening of the geometric, €30 million (approx. US$41.6 million) project is expected in 2017.

Read on for more details.

Project description:

"The team proposes a geometrical volume composed of an intricate triangular grid framework that lends an overall unity to the building shape. The project aims to bring an 'urban balance' to the site through its use of two principal access sequences onto the city: a Northern entry which serves as an extension of the Place du 11 janvier, and a Southern entry (by the Place de la Maamora) that is located near a forest."

"The ground floor is organized around the central ticket office and boutique spaces for passengers. From here, there is a direct access point to the escalators that lead to the 'grand passerelle' – which then leads to the train platform areas."

"The passerelle (or bridgeway) itself is envisioned as a habitable space, containing waiting vistas, kiosks, shops, and other amenities. This floor forms a U-shape around the train platforms, delineating the perimeter of the station while also creating a fluid connection with the upper galleries of the main building."

"The grid recalls traditional shapes found in vernacular Moroccan architecture, and is used here as a shading device for building users. The framework also allows for the integration of other ecological strategies, such as rainwater recovery equipment, and forced air ventilators (as opposed to conventional air conditioners). These devices will be used in concert with plantings, thereby providing several 'layers' of passive thermal protection from the climate of Morocco."

Images courtesy of Silvio d’Ascia Architecture with Omar Kobité Architecture and Eric Giudice.

Click the thumbnails below for additional images.