Mechelen Railway station
Mechelen Railway station
A railway station, with such a rich history as that of Mechelen, is worth seeing! In 1835, it was the terminus of the very first railway line of continental Europe. Over the years, Mechelen grew into a very important, if not the most important, node in the Belgian railway network.
Indeed, the former station building dated back to the 1960s and was outdated. This railway station needed new canopies, new buildings and new passageways. The whole complex needed to regain the grandeur of the past but with a modern and functional look. That is what world-famous architects Salvatore Bono and Brent Turchak must have thought for this project. A dome structure, gently rolling, made of steel and wood combined with sleek and modern designed platforms and underground passages.
Work on the station and its surroundings has been ongoing since 2012. Currently, some stages have already been completed. The overall project should be completed by 2027.
For the lighting, floodlights were chosen for the platform canopy as well as recessed luminaires for illuminating the stairs.
Project details
Illumination of railway platforms and station canopies must meet strict requirements. Among other things, it must be impossible for train drivers to be blinded by the luminaires.
With carefully selected luminaires and a well thought-out lighting plan, Mechelen Railway station became a successful project in terms of passenger perception and lighting requirements.
Mechelen, 2021
Architecture: Salvatore Bono & Brent Turchak
Lighting design: Fosfari BV
Photography: Amaranta Fernandez