LYON AIRPORT LY

RAILWAY STATION RA
Santiago Calatrava
1989-1994 1989-199944
Lyon, France
Te Lyon Airport Railway Station, designed by the
world famous engineer and architect Santiago Cala-
trava, was selected in an open competition to create
a gateway to the region of Lyon, France. Calatrava
is known for his highly expressive structures, and
Lyon Station is no exception.
Built between 1989 and 1994, it serves as the rail-
road station for the Lyon Airport in France. To-
gether with the air terminal and street, the railway
station serves as a hub linking the regional trans-
portation systems. Lyon is located in the mid-
southeastern portion of France, a little past the
midway point between Paris and the Mediterranean
Sea. Located in the Alps, the Lyon Station served
as the chief destination for skiers and spectators
during the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albert-
ville.
Te main structural system consists of ve thin
steel arches fanning out from a single con-
crete anchor point on the west end. Te station
hall stands at 120 meters tall. Te central arch,
anked by two slightly lower arches, forms the tri-
angular spine of the station hall, and these three
arches terminate in three separate concrete an-
chors on the east end.
Two wings emerge from the spine, supported
by almost radial columnar elements (topped by
simple one-panel trusses), which in turn emerge
from two smaller concrete arches. Tese columns
also bear the glazing that forms the walls of the
station hall, while the spine and wings support a
steel roof. Te triangular form of the spine makes
it inherently stable against lateral loads.
Justin Kerns
Matthew Ponsi
Joanna Yu
ARCH411, Prof. Oakley
4.27.2006
LYON AIRPORT LY
RAILWAY STATION RA
antiago Calatrava Santiago alat at a raav aavaa va
1989-1994 1989 19 9-199944
Lyon, France
The overall form of the terminal is reminiscent
oI a bird in fight, appropriate given its location
at the Lyon Airport. The two outer arch struc-
tures evoke the wings, and converge into a beak
at the west end. Most people enter the station
Irom the east, via a walkway bridge Irom the
airport, in a procession that would be like fying
in the direction oI the bird. People experience
diIIerent promenades based on their individual
destinations: either the airport above ground or
the railroad below. AIter a traveller enters Irom
the bridge, he or she descends through a series oI
escalators towards the tracks below ground level,
abandoning the concept oI fight. The experience
is reversed Ior those who are walking towards
the airport, preparing Ior their fight, as they
All structural elements are exposed in this design
and serve as the building`s decoration. Sunlight
comes through the large windows and creates a
play oI light and shadow, constantly changing
throughout the day. UnIortunately, as it is not
a maior rail hub, Lyon Airport Station does not
carry very heavy traIfc. Consequently, relatively
Iew experience the architecture, especially dur-
ing the summer months when tourism declines.
Justin Kerns
Matthew Ponsi
Joanna Yu
ARCH411, Prof. Oakley
4.27.2006
References:
Lyon-Satolas Airport Railway Station, Lyon. Apr. 23 2006 http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/lyonairport/index.htm~.
Main Hall Lyon-Satolas Airport. Apr. 23 2006 http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~struct/resources/casestudies/casestudiescantilevers/calatravalyon-satolasairport/calatrava
lyon-satolasairport.html~.
Sharp, Dennis, ed. Calatrava, Second Edition. London, E & FN SPON, 1992.
Tischhauser, Anthony and Stanislaus von Moos, eds. Calatrava: public buldings. Basel: Birkhauser Verlag, 1998.