Reimagining Railway

Stations as Urban Nodes

Call for
Registrations Open
Entries 3rd Apr 2023
Registrations Close
20th Oct 2023
Submission Deadline
27th Oct 2023

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Premise:
What if railway stations became all-purpose centres of services?
What if they became places where people could work, learn, play, heal, connect
and rejuvenate?

Railway stations around the world are undergoing a massive transformation.

From simply being a place of departure and arrival for an affordable and
sustainable means of transport, they have become spaces teeming with activity.
The driving force behind these transformations is a demand to accommodate
new functions as well as to elevate the experience of travelling from the source
to the destination. As transit hubs, railway stations provide necessary amenities
to their users with ease. As urban centres for services, railway stations could
grow into bustling public places that the city-dwellers could be proud of.

Indian Railways is the 4th largest rail network in the world and is the largest
employer in India. The network connects 7000+ stations all over the country,
where over 13,000 trains operate every day. It connects people and places on an
enormous scale and across socio-economic levels in India, where rail transport
still remains the chosen form of travel for a majority of the population. Railway
stations are one of the few places of public importance that retain some activity
throughout the day. And in a way, they hold a city within a city that never fully
sleeps.
Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:
Across the 7,653 railway stations in India, more than 6000 are in X, Y and Z cities.
Reimagining railway stations in these cities/towns as active urban nodes also
adds to their multidimensional relationship with their surroundings and nearby
neighbourhoods. They have already evolved beyond transit hubs, stretching
towards centres of business, culture and communication. With Transit-oriented
Development (TOD) becoming an integral part of urban development, to
promote public transit use, it’s time to look at what possibilities railway stations
hold to combine various elements in the day-to-day life of the citizens. They
could become places that amalgamate various spheres and sectors, and fill in
the gaps in the town’s life, with facilities like education, healthcare,
workspaces, commercial developments, etc. They could also help uplift the
economic sector in the town.

An example that effectively demonstrates the

importance of a Transit-oriented approach is
that of Navi Mumbai. The decentralized
planning with multiple nodes focuses on
different activities, each node serving a
specific amount of the population. The
Trans-harbour railway line was envisioned in
the 1960s and came into existence in the
1990s. Stations along this line have been
envisioned as strategic nodes to
boost development in the region. Vashi railway station is home to a commercial
complex with offices, Seawoods-Darave railway station is a mixed-use business
centre, and Belapur CBD railway station complex houses govt. Offices.

While creating and innovating a new vision for these railway stations, it is
important to conserve the unique identity of the city where the site is located.
With sustainability in mind, encourage sustainable choices by users through the
design using strategies like net-zero water and energy cycles, waste
management and promoting responsible behaviour in public spaces. Participants
are welcome to improve user experience with wayfinding, entry-exit, layover,
and placemaking and open up the town/city to new avenues through their
design.

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

The Design Problem:
This year, designaddvance calls for ideas that reimagine railway stations in X, Y
and Z cities beyond being just Transit Hubs and more as nodes of urban activity.
To reform and boost the existing spatial and visual identity of a railway station
into that of an urban centre—with a mix of uses such as healthcare, commerce,
education, leisure, business, entertainment and so on—reshaping the interaction
of the users with the place.

To reimagine an existing railway station with innovative approaches, participants

should try to TRACK their design decisions.
➔ Take a sustainable approach towards energy and low carbon emissions,
➔ Resolve first and the last mile challenges of transit,
➔ Achieve barrier-free integration with city fabric,
➔ Create a self-sustaining design by incorporating feasible revenue
generation models and commercial activities,
➔ Knock down the boundaries from a mere 'means of transit’ approach.

Site Selection:
Participants can take up a railway station site in any of the X, Y or Z cities,
according to the RLDA’s scheme (refer to appendices). Sites in Y and Z cities
that promote growth of the city/town, will be encouraged even though not
mandatory. Adhere to the following parameters while choosing your site:
1. The total site area should be between 1-4 acres.
2. Follow locally applicable bye-laws or the National Building Code in their
absence. (Different cities and regions have different allowances for ground
Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:
 coverage, FSI, % built-up area, etc.).
3. Refer to the Manual for Standards and Specifications of Railway Stations
Vol I and Vol II for standards

Programme:
Reimagine the railway station site as an urban node, infusing it with combinations
of functions that include, but aren’t limited to
1. Business - Workspaces, convention centres, meeting rooms, etc.
2. Commercial developments - shopping, farmers’ markets, cafeterias,
restaurants, and so on.
3. Education - libraries, coaching centres, schools, colleges, classrooms, etc.
These services could be supplemented by programmes like ʻBooks on
wheels’ started by Indian Railways.
4. Healthcare - facilities that could range from speciality clinics to full-fledged
hospitals. These facilities could also work in conjunction with initiatives such
as the Lifeline Express, Smile train, etc.
5. Leisure and Entertainment - exhibitions and experiences, play areas,
auditoriums etc.
6. Hospitality/Tourism - Hotels/accommodation for visitors to the city.
7. Other functions that you think are important to your scheme and would
help make the reconceived railway station an important node.
Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:
A few helpful pointers and measures for your designs are given below:
● Enhance the users’ experience of the place. Focus on the ease of
wayfinding, entry and exit points, layover, pedestrian and vehicular traffic
and connectivity to public transportation.
● Think of the variety of user groups and their choices/preferences as well
as needs.
● Spaces should be accessible and inclusive, and promote equal opportunity
and participation.
● Encourage sustainable choices by users through walkability, net zero cycles
for energy and water, efficient waste management practices, etc.
● Define well your own programme and functions within it. Your design
should be like a tailor-made solution for your chosen site according to your
research and studies.
● Allow enough flexibility in your design for future readjustment to uses and
changing demands.
● Embrace the local cultural heritage, architectural identity and vernacular
building practices.
● Think about user behaviour in public spaces in India—provide a solution
for maintenance and hygiene concerns. Encourage good behaviour
through your design and contribute to the safety and placemaking of the
site.

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Eligibility:
● Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students of Architecture,
Planning, Engineering and Design across the country.
● Anyone who is a student at the time of registration is eligible to participate,
including those graduating in 2023.

Team Composition:
● A maximum of three members per team is permissible.
● The team may be multidisciplinary with at least one member being an
architecture student.
● The members of the team can belong to the same or different academic
years, colleges and courses of undergraduate or postgraduate disciplines
with at least one member being an architecture student.

Important Dates:
Registrations Open 3rd April 2023:
Registrations Close: 20th October 2023
Submissions Close: 27th October 2023

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Submission Requirements:
1. A statement defining the programme, context and the choice of site in one
A4 sheet as a pdf. Name the pdf as <Code_Statement>.
2. 5-7 Graphical Slides in 16:9 ratio, Landscape orientation, 200 to 300 DPI,
with the design process and the drawings (plans, elevations, sections,
views, area and energy calculations) depicted in a suitable graphical scale.
Calculations and statements for compliance with zero energy building
requirements such as Energy Rating System Index, Energy conservation
code, Energy use intensity, etc. are to be included in the submission. Name
the pdf as <Code_Presentation>.
3. Participants are encouraged to elaborate on decarbonization and
calculation of other zero energy design strategies within their design and
the processes that surround it.
4. A recorded presentation of under 5 minutes duration explaining the project
shall be included in the submissions, to be uploaded in the submission
folder/link provided. Name the recording as <Code_Video>.
5. Letter of declaration signed by the participant shall be included. (Format
attached in the annexure of the brief). Name the recording as
<Code_Letter>.
6. Acknowledgement of references used for case studies and design ideas
that have been adapted from sources are to be included in the submission.
All entries shall be scrutinized for evidence of plagiarism.
7. The submissions need to clearly document the design process. It is
recommended, though not mandatory, that drawings/ graphics be
developed using Autodesk Revit and auxiliary Autodesk BIM tools. The
sheets may include plans, sections, elevations, 3D views, joinery details,
Dynamo scripts, and anything else that would help communicate the idea
better.
8. Participants’ names must not be mentioned anywhere, only the submission
code as provided has to be mentioned on the top-right corner of the
documents.
9. Autodesk Docs link for uploading the entry will be communicated to the
participants after registration for the competition closes.

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Design Parameters and Evaluation:
● Reimagination of a transit hub- innovative thinking.
● The relevance of the project/interventions at the site, and integration of
the project with the urban areas, harmonious with city/regional
social-cultural heritage.
● Addressing of first and last mile connectivity challenges.
● Sustainability and Carbon-neutral aspects of the design. Factor in the
energy, water and other resource requirements during the construction as
well as use of the building.
● The use of zero-carbon design and technologies.
● The functionality, clarity and organisation/planning of all the various
elements worked on for the micro and macro level intervention. Flexibility in
design to allow multi-functionality.
● Originality of the concept, and Innovation in the design.
● Contribution to urban upgradation through the planned intervention
● The overall concept, coherence and graphical expression.

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Awards:
● Cash Prizes for the top three winners:
○ 1st: ₹ 75,000/-
○ 2nd: ₹ 50,000/-
○ 3rd: ₹ 25,000/-
● Top 10 entries to be published on our website.
● Top 5 winners will get free entry to Capricot BIM for Design Program (140
Hours) worth ₹ 50,000/-
● All participants who have submitted the entries will get a discount voucher
of 40% on the BIM for Design Program.
● E - Certificates for all attendees of the workshop.
● E - Certificates for all participants who have submitted competition entries

Knowledge Resources:
Online Self-Learning Modules and webinars by experts in sustainability, BIM,
energy simulation, building innovations will be conducted at regular intervals-
accessible free of cost for the competition registrants. This will help the teams
understand concepts and best practices for high-performance buildings. For
more info, stay tuned at: https://www.designaddvance.in

Other Resources::
● Annexure I: Letter of Declaration
● Annexure II: Sites entrusted to RLDA for Redevelopment
● Annexure III: X, Y and Z classification of Indian Cities with respect to Census
2011
● Manual for Standards and Specifications of Railway Stations Vol I and Vol II

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner:

Suggested Readings::
● Tokyo Station City: The Railway Station as urban place
● Railway Stations: Boosting the city
● Awesome features to expect at railway stations after redevelopment
● https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/indian-railways-
mega-projects-for-developing-world-class-stations-underway-heres-all-
about-amenities-and-cost-of-projects/2988898/
● National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy
● https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport/publication/transforming-t
he-urban-space-through-transit-oriented-development-the-3v-approach
● https://www.scribd.com/presentation/475404979/CASE-STUDY-1-SEAWO
OD-MALL-NAVI-MUMBAI
● http://www.hitensethi.com/seawoods-railway-station.html
● https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a2314-denver-union-s
tation-dus-by-som-2014-beaux-arts-masterpiece/
● Fulton Centre, New York, USA:
https://www.archdaily.com/780271/fulton-center-grimshaw

Competition Partner: Technology & Knowledge Partner: