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Santiago Calatrava Calls Attention to Transportation Design with Liège Train Station

Originally commissioned in 1996, the starchitect had to replace the existing station without interrupting train service or disturbing the 36,000 people who frequent the facility on a daily basis.

Laurel Petriello -- Interior Design, 10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

Santiago Calatrava Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station

Santiago Calatrava continues to carve out his architectural niche by putting his stamp on transportation design across the world. The architect chosen to design the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in downtown Manhattan released his latest creation, the Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station, late last month in Belgium—and it is quite a looker.

Santiago Calatrava Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station

Designed by Calatrava to meet the demands of high-speed travel, the station brings new life into the industrial city of Liège and acts as an epicenter of the North European High-Speed Network. “It was my goal to create a 21st century transportation facility that would not only unite Liège with the rest of Europe, but would also serve as a symbol of the city’s renewal,” said Calatrava. “The project, as a whole, creates a new gateway into Liège and re-establishes a relationship with the city.”

Santiago Calatrava Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station

Originally commissioned in 1996, the starchitect faced a tough task of replacing the existing station without interrupting train service or disturbing the 36,000 people who frequent the facility on a daily basis. Using a technique normally employed in bridge construction, Calatrava was able to accommodate this request, while preserving the integrity of his design.

Santiago Calatrava Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station

The new station, which now frames the city of Liège, features a soaring roof to protect travelers from natural elements while eliminating the use of a façade. The final result is a flowing structure that Calatrava likens to “the graceful rise and fall of the Cointe Hills in the background.”

Santiago Calatrava Liège-Guillemins TGV Railway Station

Imagery by Barbara Burg/Oliver Schuh, palladium.de; courtesy of Santiago Calatrava, LLC.