COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

900 San Marcelino St., Ermita, Manila,

Philippines Tel. No.: 524 2011 loc. 203/134

Research

Bus Terminal

A Research
Submitted to the College of Architecture
Adamson University

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements for
Architectural Design 5

Submitted by:
Gerardo, Liano Ezekiel N.

Submitted to:
Ar. Allan Christopher Luna

November 24, 2021

 Poole Bus Station, United Kingdom

​ What is the architectural concept?

The 40-year-old Wilts & Dorset Poole Bus Station, renovated by Penson Architects,
resembles a living dream. It is a giant mural, based on views of various local activities,
such as wind-surfing which gives the appearance of a huge piece of glass reflecting the
station activities below.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

All the design team had to work with was a huge concrete canopy, built in the early
Sixties, which cast its dull shadow over the bus stops below. Even though the designers
have a low budget, they managed to brighten the space of the bus station on a very low
budget. They also provide cladding to the canopy in graphic panels featuring designs
inspired by the local area.

​ Does it have any design flaw/s?

The design flaw is that the bus station is notorious for its lack of tidiness and anti-social
behavior, and has been identified as a crime hotspot by Dorset Police.

​ What are types of transportation do they have?

Poole Bus Station is the largest bus station in Dorset and is a key travel hub on the
South Coast of England. The station is owned by Wilts & Dorset and used by National
Express.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

I like that the designers innovated and improved the bus station with a low budget, yet
they managed to showcase the designs of the local area by cladding the canopy with
graphic panels.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
The design will work based on the Philippine context since this kind of structure is even
better than some of the existing bus stations in the Philippines.
 ​Slough Bus Station, United Kingdom

​ What is the architectural concept?

In particular, the scheme seeks to add a quality modern building that will complement
the neighbouring listed buildings. This required a design that is light and elegant.

The form of the building derives from the idea of different wavelengths of light inspired
by Astronomer Royal, William Herschel’s discovery of infra-red waves in 1800 while a
resident of Slough. The structures of bus accommodation building and canopy are
designed to mediate between pedestrians using the new north-south route and the
needs of waiting passengers. The single structural form has to enclose the waiting area,
while also providing a clutter-free passenger environment. Strategic column locations
and arch spring points ensure separation from the bus movement area and provide
clearance for buses.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

The architectural vision for the bus station was to create a piece of functional sculpture,
which would be a landmark for the town and a feature of which its residents would be
proud. The wave-shaped form was conceived so as to respond to the differing levels of
weather protection required by passengers and buses. Extensive use of engineering
modeling technologies linked the structural form to the comfort of the pedestrian and the
functioning of the station. This process determined the location of the columns and the
setting out for where the structure envelops the waiting and ticket facilities.
 ​ Does it have any design flaw/s?
The sensual skin belies the complications involved in the structural design, with the
dynamic response of the canopy to wind and differential deflection between canopies.
The trusses are also designed to be extended for future expansion, giving an added
complication of different load cases and structural detailing.

​ What are types of transportation do they have?

The bus station scheme has two distinct functions. The primary function is to create a
transport interchange with the rail station providing new, safe, efficient, and enjoyable
public transport facilities.

The second function improves the pedestrian permeability and legibility of the urban
realm by creating a new north-south covered public route from the rail station through to
the center of Slough.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

I like that the form concept of this bus station derives from the idea of different
wavelengths of light inspired by Astronomer Royal, William Herschel’s discovery of
infra-red waves in 1800 while a resident of Slough.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
The design will work based on the Philippine context since this kind of structure already
exists in the Philippines.

​Vauxhall Bus Station, London

​ What is the architectural concept?
The bus station was designed by Arup Associates.[3] It incorporates two cantilevered
arms that contain 167 solar panels, which provide a third of the bus station's electricity.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

Designed by Arup Associates in 2005, the 200m-long, stainless steel ribbon undulates
alongside the railway arches. However, TfL argued that the bus station’s location also
impeded plans to revamp the road layout in the area to reduce road accidents.

​ Does it have any design flaw/s?

By 2019 the plans were to build two residential tower blocks on the site, at heights of 53
and 42 floors, with a new bus station on the ground floor. A four-day public inquiry into
the future of the project began in December 2019. In April 2020, Robert Jenrick upheld
the development decisions and demolition was approved.
 ​ What types of transportation do they have?
Is a bus station in Vauxhall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is operated by
London Buses and owned and maintained by Transport for London, and is the second
busiest bus station in the city.

​Seoul Station, South Korea

​ What is the architectural concept?

The development site for the Northern area of Seoul station has more characteristics
that is defined by the railway roads within the site which actually isolates itself from the
urban context. The condition is very different from the open and adventurous feeling
that we associate with the name Seoul Station.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

The task that lies ahead for the architects was to analyze and develop the project which
will become a major transfer point for public transportations including the Airport
Railway Station which will be completed in the year 2010 and to develop potentials that
can be related to parks that are located around the site.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

It is a terminus for Gyeongbu line (Seoul-Busan) KTX (Korea Train Express) trains as
well as Saemaul, Mugunghwa and Nooriro trains. It is also connected to Incheon
International Airport by AREX (Airport Express).

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
Yes, because this type of architectural style which is modern and has the latest design
is applicable to the Philippines.

​
 ​UBC Exchange at the University of British Columbia in Canada

​ What is the architectural concept?

Campus and Community Planning is playing a lead role in advocating for SkyTrain to
UBC because it will ensure the university hits its transportation mode share goals and
enable the university to better meet the housing needs of the UBC community.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

This differs from other buildings because it is connected to the UBC campus.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

There are over 156,000 trips to and from UBC each day and just over half of these trips
are on transit. With SkyTrain to UBC, transit ridership will increase significantly and the
university will hit its 2040 sustainable mode share goal immediately. The overall impact
will be a reduction in GHG’s, fewer peak-hour auto trips from the road network, and a
reduction in total distance traveled by vehicles.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

The fact that this [articular station connects with the campus for the students and
employees to have better and easy access to campus and the metro.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
This will not work in the Philippine context because this subway is underground, since
the Philippines is prone to flood, underground structures are not ideal to be built in the
Philippines because floods may penetrate the subway and may damage it severely.
 ​Port Authority Bus Terminal, Manhattan, New York City

​ What is the architectural concept?

GKD-USA, the leading manufacturer of woven metal fabrics, secured the contract to
manufacture and install 6,000-square-feet of Mediamesh® on the PABT. The façade
provides a multitude of benefits to the Port Authority including opportunities for
advertising revenue given its prime location one block from Times Square. Second, the
addition of the façade will hide the terminal’s 1970s-era steel overlay which earned it the
unflattering designation as one of the 10 ugliest buildings in the world by
VirtualTourist.com. However, given the transparent nature of the material, natural
lighting and interior views will not be obstructed by occupants inside the building.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the largest bus station in the United States and
busiest by volume in the world, with 7,200 buses arriving and more than 200,000 people
passing through the terminal daily. One of New York City’s most forgettable buildings
has been transformed into a model of modern technology. The Port Authority Bus
Terminal (PABT), located in midtown Manhattan between 40th and 42nd street, now
boasts the world’s largest transparent media façade completed by GKD Metal Fabrics
which effectively covers the building’s outdated steel façade.

​ Does it have any design flaw/s?

The design flaw of this particular structure is that the terminal has this 1970s-era steel
overlay which earned it the unflattering designation as one of the 10 ugliest buildings in
the world by VirtualTourist.com.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

Serving both local and intercity bus lines, the five-story building is also home to retail
space, restaurants, and a bowling alley.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

I like that the designers incorporated modern technology to hide its 1970’s era steel
style.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
This can be applied to the Philippine context, especially the application of modern
technology since the Philippines is not new to modern technology in fact the Philippines
has many technology suppliers from different parts of the world. Although it can be built,
the 1970’s steel is not ideal because it is prone to rust.

​Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Germany

​ What is the architectural concept?

Berlin Central Station is the main railway station in Berlin, Germany. Berlin
Hauptbahnhof is part of the mushroom concept in Berlin, in which the station forms a
connecting point for converging and intersecting lines of different modes of public
transport.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

Soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, city planners began work on a transport
plan for reunified Berlin. One element of this became the "Pilzkonzept" (mushroom
concept), in which a new north-south railway line intersecting the Stadtbahn was to be
constructed. The name is derived from the shape formed by the new line and existing
lines, which vaguely resemble a mushroom.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

The station's length is 430 meters, though some of the platforms are 80 meters long.
Structurally, the entire station complex is a tower station, while operationally it is a
crossing station similar to all central stations. The complex consists of several
independent operating points

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

What I like about this train station is the mushroom concept, to interconnect its tracks to
many different modes of public transport is an ideal solution to give the public better
access and easy access when they are commuting.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
It can be built in the Philippine context since the building is constructed with steel and
glass though this construction is not that ideal for a bus terminal.

​Kamppi Center, Helsinki, Finland

​ What is the architectural concept?

Situated in the Kamppi Shopping Centre, Helsinki Bus Station is one of the most
modern and busiest in the world. Around 700 long-distance buses depart from there
daily and the same number arrive from around Finland.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

The terminal has 35 bays, six of which are reserved for arrivals. The arrival and
departure bays are indoors and you can get directly from the bus station to the metro
and the Espoo Bus Terminal without going outside. There is also an underground
connection from Kamppi to the Helsinki railway station.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

In addition to serving the area around Kamppi in central Helsinki, the station is
integrated with the Kamppi Center bus terminal and shopping complex. Kamppi is
served by both lines M1 and M2.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

The fact that the accessibility of the public to other modes of transportation without
going outside is an ideal planning solution.

​ Will the design work in the Philippine context? (except for the last case study)
This can be built in the Philippine context since the architectural style can also be seen
in other existing buildings in the Philippines, and also to integrate the bus terminal inside
with other transport services without going outside is good space planning.
 ​Bang Sue Grand Station, Bangkok, Thailand

​ What is the architectural concept?

It is the most significant transportation or infrastructure project Thailand has undertaken
since the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport and is set to bring a much-needed
revitalization to the country’s outdated railway network. The station will have four floors,
three above, and one below ground:

Underground floor: Bang Sue MRT Station, on the MRT Blue Line station, and parking
for 1,624 vehicles.

Ground floor: Station concourse with ticketing and waiting areas. This will be the only
air-conditioned area in the station.

Second floor: Train platforms with 12 tracks. Eight tracks will serve long-distance
diesel trains (soon to be electrified). Four tracks will serve SRT Red Dark and Light Red
Line commuter trains.

Third floor: High–speed railway platforms with 10 tracks. Four tracks will serve the
Airport Rail Link and the Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway
linking Don Mueang International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, and U-Tapao
International Airport. Six tracks are reserved for future high-speed rail (HSR)
connections to Nong Khai, Padang Besar, Thailand, and Chiang Mai.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

Bang Sue will be the largest railway station in Southeast Asia, with 26 platforms—some
600 meters long. The station will offer 274,192 m2 of usable floor space. The 15 billion
baht station is being built on 2,325 rai (372 hectares) of SRT-owned land and will have
maintenance depots for both diesel and electric trains. An elevated walkway will
connect the station to the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal.
 ​ What types of transportation do they have?
Bang Sue Grand Station will be Thailand's new railway hub. It will replace the existing
Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong) as the terminus for all long-distance rail
services from Bangkok.

​Araneta Center Bus Terminal

​ What is the architectural concept?

It occupies the ground level of Manhattan Heights, a four-tower residential condominium
complex that is part of the 5.7-hectare (14-acre), 18-tower highrise community
developed by Megaworld Corporation called Manhattan Garden City. It was built in 2017
as the modern alternative to, and eventual replacement for, the adjacent Araneta City
Bus Terminal, the oldest integrated bus terminal in Metro Manila, in operation since
1993.

​ What sets it apart from other similar buildings?

Araneta Center Bus Terminal differs from other bus terminals because among the
research conducted it is the only terminal that is just a part of a residential complex that
is located underground.

​ Does it have any design flaw/s?

The facade of the building is not ideal because it lacks representation that it is a bus
terminal, the facade of the residential complex dominates the overall look, this can be a
problem for commuters to locate the bus terminal.

​ What types of transportation do they have?

Currently, it is one of two bus terminals in the Araneta City business district that link
Metro Manila with the provinces in the north and south of the country, including cities in
the Visayas and Mindanao via the Philippine Nautical Highway System. The station is
also a hub for buses servicing the Bicol Region.

​ What do you like (or hate) about the building development?

The facade needs improvement, a better terminal-looking facade not just a facade
looking like a residential condominium.