A £7.5 million new, glass-fronted bus station designed to convey the spirit of the city opened its doors in Gloucester last month. Conceived by international architects BDP, the building is covered by a single roof plane reflecting an aircraft wing in celebration of the city’s aviation heritage.
The opening ceremony took place on Friday 26 October with the mayor of Gloucester Mrs Joanne Brown and local MP Richard Graham, followed by a public open day on Saturday 27 October.
Commissioned to create an architectural landmark, within tight budget constraints, BDP has designed an iconic transport hub that can be effectively integrated into a proposed regeneration area. The building is highly transparent offering views of its surroundings and a calm, airy environment.
The single roof plane resembling an aircraft wing acts as a reference to Gloucester’s unique aviation history, as well as providing a dramatic and iconic structural form. The wing also has an aerofoil section and is punctuated at various points to allow light to flood into the concourse and bus stands. A section of a Roman wall, discovered underneath the foundations, is also featured in the new structure.
The bus station has 12 bus bays, a café and shop, toilets and seating areas, as well as a drivers’ rest area, and is fully fitted with digital screens and real time passenger information.
Nick Fairham, architect director for architects BDP, said:
“The opportunity to design and deliver the new transport hub for the city of Gloucester was a real privilege. Buildings such as this often set the first impression of a city and the design aims to reflect the ‘spirit of place’ that Gloucester offers. The single roof plane is designed to resemble an aircraft wing in celebration of the city’s unique aviation heritage, while providing an iconic structural form that allows as much light as possible to flood the concourse and stands. We hope this building is a catalyst for the regeneration and continued prosperity of the city.”