ProRail is responsible for the maintenance and management of the main railway infrastructure in the Netherlands. This includes approximately 1,500 rail-related buildings that house systems and installations supporting the functioning of the railway network.
Many of these buildings are outdated and need to be replaced in the coming years. The new buildings designed by ProRail are modular, circular, and consist of connected basic modules onto which various facades can be placed, depending on the location.
The facade designed by Studio Marco Vermeulen consists of a single bio-based standard panel with a pattern that refers to the railway. Since the linear design always continues, regardless of the panel's orientation, a unique pattern is created on each facade.
Many of these buildings are outdated and need to be replaced in the coming years. The new buildings designed by ProRail are modular, circular, and consist of connected basic modules onto which various facades can be placed, depending on the location.
The facade designed by Studio Marco Vermeulen consists of a single bio-based standard panel with a pattern that refers to the railway. Since the linear design always continues, regardless of the panel's orientation, a unique pattern is created on each facade.
2023
Prorail
in cooperation with
NPSP
×
Railway pattern
Functional and Natural
The pattern on the facade should express ProRail's functionality while also reflecting ProRail's circular, nature-inclusive, and landscape ambitions. The design is based on both the railway map and the organic patterns of Art Nouveau, an artistic movement that flourished at the end of the 19th century, the same period during which the railways experienced significant growth. The design features curved lines, arcs, and organically shaped lines.
When these elements are combined on a rail-related building, they create a random and varied appearance, with the tiles having different orientations.
Every facade unique
The patterns on the facades of the modular rail-related buildings are constructed from identical panels, with all four sides perfectly matching, regardless of orientation. The panels are rotated in random directions and then assembled to form the facade. This results in a continuous facade design without repetition. Through this system, each rail-related building is given a completely unique facade.
The pattern on the facade should express ProRail's functionality while also reflecting ProRail's circular, nature-inclusive, and landscape ambitions. The design is based on both the railway map and the organic patterns of Art Nouveau, an artistic movement that flourished at the end of the 19th century, the same period during which the railways experienced significant growth. The design features curved lines, arcs, and organically shaped lines.
When these elements are combined on a rail-related building, they create a random and varied appearance, with the tiles having different orientations.
Every facade unique
The patterns on the facades of the modular rail-related buildings are constructed from identical panels, with all four sides perfectly matching, regardless of orientation. The panels are rotated in random directions and then assembled to form the facade. This results in a continuous facade design without repetition. Through this system, each rail-related building is given a completely unique facade.
The line work is based on the functionality of the railway map and the natural organic patterns of Art Nouveau.
Bio-composite
The facade panels are made from bio-composite: a fiber-reinforced plastic consisting of renewable ingredients. During production, natural fibers are mixed with a bio-resin and pressed into a mold. The resin ingredients include natural oils, carbohydrates, and natural phenolic compounds (such as tannin and lignin). Fibers like reed, flax, and other crops can be used. Since bio-resins are often transparent, the colors and textures of these fillers determine the material's appearance. For the rail-related buildings, Nabasco 8010 from NPSP is used.
Nature-inclusive Design
Animals need food, shelter, and often a nesting place. If any of these components are missing, the species cannot survive. Often, there is vegetation (trees, shrubs, grass, herbs) in the immediate vicinity of substations where many animals can find food. However, good shelters and nesting opportunities are often lacking, preventing these species from fully utilizing the surrounding area.
Especially for ProRail's rail-related buildings, which are situated in various landscapes, it is beneficial to design them in a nature-inclusive manner, as many different species in different locations can benefit from this approach.
Space is created behind the panels for nesting boxes that provide shelters and nesting opportunities for birds (such as the house sparrow, tree sparrow, nuthatch, pied flycatcher, great tit, crested tit, blue tit, and coal tit), insects (such as wild bees and butterflies), and bats. For each substation, the appropriate facade orientations and heights for installing nesting boxes and drilling entry holes in the panels are determined. This allows for targeting specific species within a particular area, thereby offering extra support to endangered species.
Especially for ProRail's rail-related buildings, which are situated in various landscapes, it is beneficial to design them in a nature-inclusive manner, as many different species in different locations can benefit from this approach.
Space is created behind the panels for nesting boxes that provide shelters and nesting opportunities for birds (such as the house sparrow, tree sparrow, nuthatch, pied flycatcher, great tit, crested tit, blue tit, and coal tit), insects (such as wild bees and butterflies), and bats. For each substation, the appropriate facade orientations and heights for installing nesting boxes and drilling entry holes in the panels are determined. This allows for targeting specific species within a particular area, thereby offering extra support to endangered species.
Especially for ProRail's rail-related buildings, which are situated in various landscapes, it is beneficial to design them in a nature-inclusive manner.
Facade Construction
The construction of the facade system consists of three layers: the nesting boxes, a framework, and the bio-based facade panels. The framework is attached to the supporting structure using aluminum brackets, creating space between the structure and the facade for nesting boxes.
The design of the nesting boxes aims to accommodate as many species as possible within a single facade module. To achieve this, two types of nesting box cassettes have been designed, which are uniform for the entire building. The facade panel placed in front of these nesting boxes has openings of various diameters, each providing access to a specific species. When the panel is rotated, different holes align with the nesting boxes. For each location, the appropriate entry openings in the panel are determined and drilled.
The design of the nesting boxes aims to accommodate as many species as possible within a single facade module. To achieve this, two types of nesting box cassettes have been designed, which are uniform for the entire building. The facade panel placed in front of these nesting boxes has openings of various diameters, each providing access to a specific species. When the panel is rotated, different holes align with the nesting boxes. For each location, the appropriate entry openings in the panel are determined and drilled.
The facades of the rail-related buildings along the railway can adapt to changes in the landscape through variations in color and the type of fiber used in the production of the panels.
Landscape Integration
The railway traverses all types of landscapes in the Netherlands, including nature areas as well as the front and back sides of Dutch villages, cities, and industrial areas. The facades of the rail-related buildings along the railway can adapt to changes in the landscape through variations in color and the type of fiber used in the production of the panels. This allows the buildings to reflect the landscapes in which they are situated.
