City Spine
Visions of the Future Vilnius Railway Station
2021 Vilnius Railway Station and Public Square Competition
2021 Spring
Group Work with: Architecture Designer: Fenghao Lu, Zhanglei Xu; Landscape Designer: Liwei Shen, Shuyue Li
The goal of our overall planning of the territory is to achieve the social justice in ecology, economy, and mobility by the physical and internal of the ‘city spine’. In the other word, we hope to provide high-quality and sustainable public spaces, ensure the convenient connections by all modes of transport, activate the local economy, and at the same time, create qualitative distinctiveness and preserve local identity by this design.
Transportation organization is the physical manifestation of the ‘city spine’. By diverting people and vehicles at different elevations, the vehicle circulation and parking lots are mainly placed underground, which not only ensures smooth flow lines and enough parking spaces, but also enables the North Square owns flows with a slow traffic system mainly for pedestrians and bicyclists, becoming an area with a better landscape version.
In response to Lithuania's escalating energy independence challenges and transition to renewable energy, the design embraces a carbon-neutral approach. Solar-powered facilities span terminal spaces, retail zones, and office environments, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable urban development. The infrastructure prioritizes pedestrian and cyclist mobility, and redefines traditional transportation modes.
Beyond its functional aspects, "City Spine" represents a sustainable urban regeneration strategy that adapts to climate change challenges such as more frequent summer heatwaves and extreme precipitation events. Unlike traditional hard-paved European plazas, it synthesizes meadows and forest ecosystems with shaded recreational areas. Stormwater detention zones are proposed to manage heavy rainfall by infiltrating water effectively. These multifunctional public spaces foster social interaction while enhancing landscape resilience.
“City Spine” addresses Vilnius's multi-modal transportation needs, accommodates growing populations, improves business opportunities, and reinforces the city's commitment to sustainability. It serves as a green spine within the urban fabric, redefining traditional transportation paradigms.
