In a continuous effort to improve the travel experience and organize the growing demands of passengers and transport companies, the Madrid-Barajas T4 Bus Terminal was created. It was inaugurated on October 14, 2022. FBarquitectura together with INCOSA had the opportunity to carry out the Construction Project and Technical Architectural Assistance on site of this project. A modern bus parking area was achieved. It is designed for long distance transport companies and discretionary services.
A determining formal characteristic for its current design is the connection of the existing passenger levels and road circulations with the new projected ones. It bridges the steep slopes around the perimeter of the plot and the existing roads that delimit it.
In addition to this infrastructure, a specific area was reserved for hotel courtesy buses and other services. This area has a single boarding dock. It also has a specially equipped platform for passenger comfort.
In planning for the future until 2030, the need was identified to expand the bus station to accommodate 30 bus docks, with a minimum area of 775 m2 for passenger waiting and circulation. The opening of a commercial area of at least 350 m2 is also envisaged to enhance the user experience.
Adopted solution for the T4 Bus Terminal at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
The proposal was located on the northern plot of the P4 public parking lot, in the vicinity of T4, and was based on the idea of modular parking areas. The highlight of this proposal was the choice of a compact station model. In this way, the buses follow a circular perimeter route on the outside, leaving a spacious interior that is used for passenger waiting areas, commercial areas and other essential services.
The project was characterized by the existence of three differentiated flows: pedestrian, vehicular and bus. These are strategically designed so as not to intersect at the same level. This ensures smooth and uninterrupted circulation at all times.
Proposal
The proposal was developed in two key levels related to the boarding passenger (P0) and the waiting passenger (P1):
- Level 0: This level houses the boarding areas, commercial areas and essential services. The exterior waiting areas and boarding filters are covered, ensuring passenger comfort.
- Level 1: On this level are the waiting areas, which include restaurant areas and additional commercial areas. It also has an outdoor terrace that surrounds the entire perimeter, perfectly complementing the interior spaces.
Connectivity
Pedestrian connectivity was achieved through the existing walkway serving the parking modules, extending it to the end of module F. Here, a first vertical core was created connecting the walkway to level 1 of the station (+5.00m) via ramps and elevators. In addition, a second vertical core was built connecting level P1 to level P0 in the center of the station.
This design allows passengers coming from T4 via the walkway to experience two seamless level changes.
First, they descend from the walkway to the P1 level of the bus terminal, crossing the new module via another walkway without interrupting the flow of buses circulating on level 0. Subsequently, once in the central core of the station, they can descend from the P1 waiting level to the P0 boarding level, using stairs and elevators.
The project was calculated and designed in such a way as to allow the future construction on floor 1 of 4 levels of vehicle parking equal to the existing modules, and with direct connection to module F.
The project included all the necessary facilities to optimize its operation, from an area reserved for a future refueling point to an office for the management of the bus area. Each dock is equipped with digital information panels, a license plate reading system, access control at the entrance and exit of the parking area, and general equipment.
Units of action
In summary, this ambitious project was divided into three action units:
- Expansion of the existing walkway of module F of the T4 parking lot.
- Construction of the vertical core and the new walkway.
- Creation of the modern bus building that has significantly improved the travel experience at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Bus Building
The shape of the building derives directly from the circulations and flows that it must accommodate, thus generating the figure of the floor plan that resolves a complex and varied program, which is developed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the building with the exception of the interior circulation areas located in the central band of the building.
Inclusion of landscaped areas on the roof and terraces ensures continuity in the design by incorporating plant elements within the complex.
The use of skylights on the roof allows the passage of natural light inside the floors.
The study of the flow of use has made it possible to create a program that generates dynamic circulation spaces and the use of the glazed curtain wall generates permeability in the building.
This project represented an important step for FBarquitectura, which contributed with its experience towards quality transportation in one of the main gateways to Spain.