Design:
Natassa Lianou & Ermis Chalvatzis

Function:
BRT Stations

Area:
160 sqm per station

Location:
Chicago, USA

Client:
Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Architectural Club in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Chicago Bus Rapid Transit Steering Committee

Status:
International Competition, Chicago, 2013
Exhibited: Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, Illinois 60604, USA

Award:
Honourable Mention 2013 Burnham Prize

Year:
2013

KINESIS project, proposes dynamic and iconic light weight structures which land into the city of Chicago and create unique stations for the new BRT network. Since Chicago has a rich architectural and innovative engineering heritage, the BRT stations must consist contemporary statements of Chicago 's on-going evolution. Thus, the design is inspired from the speed and fluidity of contemporary urban life, while it presents a signature statement and brand identity of the BRT operation into Chicago streets.

The structure is consisted from the solid platform/ground, the roof/tensile membrane and the in-between glazing stripe, where these three elements blend together to produce extra features such as seating areas, ticket turnstiles, landscape. Everything is connected and integrated into a unique design language. Through the use of tensile membrane, which flows above and around the station, we achieve big-span capacity allowing maximum areas for passengers to be sheltered and protected from weather conditions.