Foster + Partners in collaboration with Marge Arkitekter have won a design competition for the redevelopment of Stockholm’s central station,
Built in 1871, the station is Sweden’s largest transportation facility and now caters to more passengers than it was originally designed for.
The winning design aims to bring together several modes of transport in an integrated hub, while prioritizing pedestrian circulation and creating a new mixed-use urban district that combines old and new architecture.
In addition to the existing number of passengers, the city’s future plans include further increasing the number of trains coming into the city, which will also catalyze the rejuvenation of Stockholm’s central district. The new district, which is built mostly over the existing tracks, will connect the surrounding streets to create an active and safe public realm that will stitch together the east and west sides of the city without impacting the historic skyline. The winning masterplan also includes a new public square, allowing the station to become a natural part of the urban fabric.
The design builds on the existing urban layout to create an array of dynamic mixed-use functions. The proposal recreates the historic Station Railway Park on the southern side, forming a new meeting place in the city center with views over the old town of Gamla stan, Södermalm, and the City Hall. The design also narrows the Klarabergsgatan Viaduct to create a natural extension of the historic central waiting hall and reduce traffic flow. The master plan also allows for the possibility of extending the tunnel to provide underground connections in the future, bringing together four modes of transport to create a single intermodal station.
The project, which involves covering the track area and doubling passenger capacity in Sweden’s most central location, is scheduled for planning consultations in 2023.