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Connecting Communities: The Mons Train Station by Santiago Calatrava

“Linking thousands of people by high-speed train has long been a phenomenon in Europe,” remarks renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. Known for his innovative railway hubs across the continent, including notable structures in France, Belgium, and Portugal, Calatrava’s latest achievement, the newly completed Mons train station, aims to do more than just facilitate travel. Located near Belgium’s border with France, the station is envisioned as a bridge between previously disconnected neighborhoods.

Calatrava emphasizes the station’s unique design: “The station has no front or back, rather acting as a link between two areas that were never before connected. Both sides are equal. One side is no more important than the other.” This philosophy is manifest in the identical canopies of steel and glass at each end of Gare de Mons, seamlessly connecting a verdant residential area with the historic city center.

The interior of the approximately 65,000-square-foot terminal, nearly two decades in the making, is a masterclass in natural light utilization. The Galerie de la Reine, a skylit corridor adorned with shops and restaurants, serves both city residents and commuters. Inspired by the elegant glazed arcades of Brussels’s Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, this space aims to generate vibrancy within the city. Calatrava notes, “Look at the skyline of New York, and you will see much of it grows around its train stations,” indicating how such projects can spark urban development.

To further enhance the experience, the architect has incorporated spacious plazas outside the station to encourage pedestrian activity. Features like well-lit parking garages, heated walkways, accessible entrances, noise barriers, and expansive 28-foot-wide platforms are thoughtfully integrated to ensure travelers enjoy a high-quality environment.

Millions are anticipated to utilize the station annually, with connections extending from Mons to Paris, Brussels, and beyond. However, for Calatrava, the significance of the station transcends its functional role; it symbolizes a forward-looking approach to transportation and community connectivity. “It’s something that looks toward the future,” he remarks, highlighting the station as a pivotal element in fostering interconnectedness.

The new Mons train station conceptualized by Santiago Calatrava is featured in AD’s May issue. Never miss a story.

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www.architecturaldigest.com