Bus Station, Piekary Śląskie, 1st Prize
The bus station is located in Piekary Śląskie.
The bus station is located in Piekary Śląskie. It serves municipal bus lines as well as intercity transport. It stands at the intersection of two important streets, between residential estates, on the site of the old bus station, which after years of falling into disrepair was partially closed and no longer provided adequate facilities for travelers. Following its reconstruction, the station is a space adapted to pedestrian passengers. The traffic layout adopted made it possible to create a new quality of station square, formed by widening the pedestrian route, connected without conflict to platforms placed one after another along a one-way internal roadway.
The most important and architecturally defining formal element is the canopy that dominates the whole. Measuring 65 m long and 20.5 m wide, the roof forms a distinctive “hanging” shape providing shade and shelter for passengers waiting on the platforms. Benches, information boards, and bicycle racks are located there. The canopy also accommodates a new building. This small structure houses a service office, a waiting room, a small café and newsstand, and an automatic toilet. These basic functions were previously absent or located in temporary, makeshift spots of very poor technical and visual quality. The new station has created a distinctive landmark in the city and raises the aesthetic value of the area. It serves both passengers and residents of the nearby estates. Photo: Archifolio | Tomasz Zakrzewski