SOUTHERN CROSS STATION

The redevelopment of Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006. It was designed by Grimshaw Architects in collaboration with structural engineers Winward Structures.



A central feature of the design is its wave-shaped roof which covers the entire city block. The roof's form has been generated by the performative requirements of the station and plays a crucial role as part of the environmental envelope. It was developed in response to the hot external climate and the internal need for diesel extraction and ambient cooling via natural ventilation. While it is waterproof to the outside it 'breathes' internally, allowing smoke, diesel particles and contaminates to be discharged.

The individual roof moguls act as air reservoirs that collect hot air together with the train's diesel fumes. The hot air and fumes are drawn through the roof, via louvres at the apex of each mogul, by the prevailing winds. These north-west and south-west winds define the valleys that cut across the roof form, ensuring natural ventilation year round. This solution is a contemporary reinterpretation of the historic shed roofs of nineteenth century Europe. The roof intrinsically expresses its own function and its rhythmical beauty is almost incidental.

(above text courtesy of www.grimshaw-architects.com)

This detail shows the extensive connection between the roof structure and the internal support columns. All plumbing and electrical services are contained within the columns.

Highly refined connection detail between steel roof structure and glass facade.

Spencer Street facade viewed internally from inside station


The following images are courtesy of Wikipedia.org:

Work on the new roof in January 2005


Construction work inside the station in late 2005

So renowned is the design of Southern Cross station that it has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union.

theage.com.au:

SOUTHERN CROSS WINS PRESTIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE AWARD