PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The site is in a little far away from the city center, but situated in the middle of the path to Durres. 0-station is a transportation complex where long-distance travelers from other cities or countries and people from suburb area can stop here and change to another public transportation like bus, tram, taxi, and bicycle in order to get to city center and destination. The main intention of this project is providing an alternative to the typical type of train station- normally arrayed platform and huge space for train. The proposed tirana station has circular and spiral railway tracks. Platforms are accumulated vertically and all the transportation circulations are arranged and move around the spiral flow. While basic railway circulates through spiral movement with minimum train turning radius, platforms and green buffer space are placed linearly along the movement. In-between the railway and cultural and public programs in the center of the station, the green buffer zone reduces noise from the train as well as provides green park with vertical circulation. Vehicle circulation is intertwined in a way of double helix and drive-through parking garage is sandwiched between the railways. Located opportunistically on the highway and railroad between major cities, transportation movement can naturally influx into the building.
The design and organization of the transit center focuses on condensed and complex programs such as retails/restaurants, hotel, cultural programs and an observation tower for the vehicles as well as citizens and tourists. All programs are connected as a one system following the spiral green circulation which performs as a promenade and linear public park. In order to mix new programs with the transit center and enhance public space, inside the railway, cultural program such as history/art museum, and library as well as a huge urban void are placed. The huge urban void works as a public plaza for those who want to stay or need to transfer another public transportation.