Hague railway station covered in a trippy diamond-patterned glass roof

Amsterdam-based Benthem Crouwel Architects have covered the central railway station in The Hague with a beautiful diamond-patterned glass roof that illuminates the entire interior.

The design of the new light-filled Den Haag Centraal station comes from the architects' goal of creating a user-friendly space that was more like a "roofed urban plaza" than cold transport hub.

The newly-opened 20,000 square-meter train station is covered by the operable glass roof, allowing optimal nature light to fill the interior terminals and walkways. Diamond-shaped glass panels, supported by eight slender columns, not only bring a special light to the station, but also add function to the design.

According to the architects, the “lozenge-shaped panels” were chosen for their ability to play with light and shadow on sunny days. Additionally, the panels can be opened and closed, making the design quite functional, “The lozenges provide ventilation by opening automatically in warm weather, act as solar protection, contribute to the acoustics and open as smoke vents should fire break out,” explained the firm.

The new train station, which replaced a former 1970s structure, was designed to be easy-to-use by visitors to the city and daily commuters, “All modes of transport, as well as retail and hospitality areas, can be taken in at a glance,” said the firm. “The design provides a natural and flexible organisation of traffic flows.”