Architecture of infrastructure projects
The Infrastructure Architect offers a humane and cityscape-oriented perspective on the design of buildings and areas related to infrastructure. Architectural design can transform an ordinary infrastructure building into a landmark that defines its environment.
Stations, railway yards, transformers, water towers, and bridges are built to last for decades, which is why infrastructure architecture must be timeless. Infrastructure structures often have a direct connection to people’s emotional experiences of a particular city or region. Our infrastructure architects ensure that technically functional structures are also pleasing to the eye and enhance people’s sense of safety and comfort.
Infrastructure architecture affects the urban landscape
Sweco’s architects serve municipalities, cities, and other public actors in infrastructure projects of all sizes. In these projects, an architect can act as a principal designer or as an expert who provides an overall view, maintaining a dialogue, and finally visualizing the drawings into illustrative 3D images. We have extensive experience in infrastructure architecture design in both nationally significant railway projects and local infrastructure construction.
In infrastructure projects, the architect always considers the perspective of the city’s residents. Our goal is to make people’s lives easier. We assess the impact of the infrastructure on the cityscape and consider how people use the structure. A safe metro tunnel, an aesthetically pleasing station shelter, or a fun underpass creates a positive image of both the area’s traffic arrangements and the value of the entire district.
Architectural design of stations and terminals
Architectural design of stations and terminals
Many transport solutions are located at the junctions of the flow of people and goods, and the transport infrastructure touches the lives of thousands of people every day. The experience of residents and tourists is affected by rail platforms, shelters at bus stops, and terminals at ports and airports. Trafic arrangements must work, but at the same time, people’s routes and waiting areas can be made more attractive.
Architecture often has a guiding role in the infrastructure design of stations; the design language of the platform area or the lighting of the spaces guide people’s movement and orientation. The design of the space can also affect people’s behaviour, such as the volume of the voice. It can transform a noisy, untidy and unsafe metro tunnel into a calming and inviting one.
Architecturally high-quality solutions raise the profile of the infrastructure. The architect ties the station’s benches, canopies, escalator tubes and power supply stations to the surrounding urban landscape and enlivens it by visual means.
Bridge architecture and other engineering structures
Bridge architecture is not only a feature of landmark bridges, but architecture also adds value to ordinary bridges and other massive engineering structures such as noise walls, retaining walls, and underpasses. The infrastructure architect supports bridge design by adding a human perspective to the bridge geometry. The scenic value of the bridge can be increased, for example, by shaping and patterning support structures, which does not affect the load-bearing horizontal and vertical structures.
Architecture of energy and water supply infrastructure
Many buildings of water supply and energy infrastructure that are critical to society’s functioning can be seen from afar and form part of the city’s skyline. Functional infrastructures, such as water towers, can be enhanced with lighting, surface materials, and patterns. A subtle change can have a major impact on the urban landscape, turning monumental infrastructure into an eye-catching landmark that identifies the district.
More sustainable infrastructure construction for nature and people
A solution that works technically, economically, and in terms of the cityscape can also be sustainable for people and the environment. An architect always looks at infrastructure as a whole and helps to take into account cultural-historical, landscape, and natural values, as well as social responsibility. The design language of the structure can impact the carbon footprint of materials like concrete and steel, and a more beautiful living environment increases people’s well-being.
Also check out industrial architectural design!