The target I set myself in my final-year project was to design a family of stations for Randstad Rail. This light-gauge system is a star-shaped network round the city of Utrecht along the axes of Woerden-Geldermalsen, Breukelen-Driebergen-Ede and Utrecht-Amersfoort-Nijkerk. This links three sites in the government's Vinex housing programme - Leidsche Rijn, Houten Castellum and Amersfoort Vathorst - to a quick and comfortable transport system.

The stations I conceived of as nodes in the large urban network. Their identity is linked to Randstad Holland, the regional system. At the same time each station should be anchored in its context, the local system with its own characteristics. This is why I sought a method of integrating the two identities in a single design.

After researching the sites in question I made a prototype: Anytown Station, which satisfies the greatest common denominator of the programmatic and spatial requirements. It is assembled using a modular building system. All elements of this system together constitute a construction kit. Given a few rules of play for each situation this kit can be used to assemble a station tailored to the local qualities. I then implemented the prototype at five concrete sites, in each case to a theme that takes account of the local circumstances.

The prototype is comprised of two pairs of slabs set parallel to a spine of commercial functions. The inner slab, on the side to the rails, consists of lamellae and forms a constant factor that recurs in each station. It bears the identity of the transporter and the regional system. The outer slab consists of frames that can be filled in differently for each site. The station thereby responds like a chameleon to its environment and therefore carries the identity of the site.

The slabs also act as a filter. They mark four different settings without isolating these from each other: city, reception, commerce and departure. When in one setting, you get information on the following setting filtered through the intervening slab.

The transitional spaces in the slabs add up to a rite of passage. They symbolize the changeover from one setting to the next.

The prototype is fleshed out for five sites, each with its own theme.

Place of education: AvB Rotterdam
Specialization: architectuur
Tutors: Jan Pesman & Marja Haring