The new bus station in Lublin has already become a new landmark of the city thanks to its unique and consistently realized architectural vision. All the necessary functions to serve passengers are hidden under the large flat roof, but it is the beautifully “branched” columns that make the building unique.
Light plays a significant part in shaping this image. It has a utilitarian and informative function as well as a decorative one, enhancing the effect of the lightness of the whole structure, which almost seems to float above the ground. The main illumination of the entire space, both inside and out, is indirect light reflected from the rooftop, which provides an even glow throughout the ground level.
The glazed façades and ceiling of the main building, which is under a large roof, blur the difference between the interior and exterior of the building. The light from the steel cup-like columns enters the interior, and the light from the interior spills out into the surrounding area. These features make the building appear very light, almost immaterial, especially when illuminated by artificial light at night.
The upper part of the station, supported by cup-like columns, serves city buses and trolleybuses, while the lower part is dedicated to regional transportation. It differs from the main section in the shape of the canopy structure and the corresponding lighting. Here, too, light flows over the steel structure, but a different color has been used – blue. This allows the two areas to be clearly identified in the space, which greatly facilitates passenger communication within the station.
The light inside the new station also illuminates some of its unusual elements, such as the large relief inside the main building depicting a map of Lublin, or the striking green wall on one of the external elevations.
The greenery surrounding the building is very important to the overall development. In addition to what is already visible today, vines are planned to cover the cup-shaped columns in the coming years, significantly changing the character of the building. The luminaires have been designed with this in mind – they are set back from the column structure so that even when covered by vines, the light can still flow across the roof.
There is ample parking underneath the entire site. The space was designed with a variety of luminaire types and color temperatures to facilitate orientation and internal communication within the building.
