Project
The central bus station in Göppingen is planned as a combined transport and public space linked to the railway station and the city centre. Together with the station square, it forms a single urban ensemble and functions as the city’s main mobility hub.
The project includes a new roof structure that marks the bus station as a city entrance and provides clear orientation toward the service building, which contains facilities such as ticket sales, a bakery, and public toilets. The service building is designed as an open and transparent structure. Tree-lined streets and pedestrian routes connect the bus station to its surroundings.
Most existing trees are retained and new trees are planted under the roof to create shaded areas and a cooler microclimate. The selected species include honey locust, sweetgum, field maple, serviceberry, and Japanese cherry. Planting beds, grasses, seating edges, and wooden decks are integrated into the public space.
The roof covers an area of 2,335 m² and is positioned 12 m above the ground. Its geometry is aligned with the location of trees, with six openings that allow sunlight and rain to reach the planting areas. The roof is supported by nine columns and is made of hollow structural profiles with a constant depth of 700 mm. Square glass panels (1.25 × 1.25 m) form the roof surface; some are transparent and others contain photovoltaic cells with different transparency levels.
Bus platforms are arranged to allow access from the sides at ground level and are connected by barrier-free routes. The surfaces are finished with natural stone paving for pedestrian areas, in-situ concrete for bus standing areas, and asphalt for roadways. Seating made of reused wood from the existing roof and concrete recycled from the former structure are integrated into the design.
Project data
Study: 2024
Architects: Sunsoak Design, Ney&Partners and Faktorgruen Landschaftsarchitekten
Site: Göppingen, Germany
