The Bijlmer Arena train station in Amsterdam, realised by Arcadis Architecten and Grimshaw architects, is designed for the future. The Bijmler Arena area has a full development plan in place and the station is central to the infrastructure of this plan.
The station is designed to accommodate a huge increase in expected commuters once development of the area is complete. The expectations are that over fifteen thousand commuters will make use of the station each hour. Those expectations have not yet been met and for the time being passengers have a huge amount of room to enjoy, maybe too much.
The building is realised on the location of the first Bijlmer station which was constructed in the 70’s. The demolition of the old station and the construction of the new one was not a simple task. After all, commuters still had to use the station during the construction process.
Unlike the old station, that looked like a concrete bunker, the new one characterises itself by a light canopy. The spaces underneath the tracks, which are usually gloomy, are transformed into light and open spaces. Viaducts hold the tracks above ground level. Sunlight forces its way in between the concrete arches of the viaducts down to the ground level.
