Braunschweig main station | pedestrian underpass

The passenger underpass at Braunschweig’s main railway station, previously a purely cold transit area, has been reinterpreted with an innovative lighting and luminaire design. The central task of the project was to transform the area, which was perceived as a space of fear, and at the same time to create a clear structure and a harmonious rhythm based on the station’s façade and technical installations. By implementing a completely newly developed lighting channel according to strict DB specifications and the lightsaber module specially designed for this project, it was possible to reorganize the space. The cove-like, continuous light scoop casts diffuse light into the ceiling space and visually creates more room height.

Particular emphasis was placed in the design on non-dazzling lighting of the direct components and the creation of an inviting connection between the station concourse and the south exit. The lightsabers, which match the rhythm of the façade panels, structure the space and provide a visual guideline. Colored backlighting on special occasions, such as Eintracht Braunschweig home games or International Women’s Day, rounds off the concept and gives the location a special atmosphere with a dynamic character.

The new pedestrian underpass is now the starting point for an urban development that aims to connect the city center and southern areas with the development of DB-Stadt in the future. The lighting design represents a connecting element between two spatially separated urban areas.