One of the most remarkable renovation projects in Europe over the past year has undoubtedly been the effort at Zvonařka Bus Station in Brno, Czech Republic, underpinned by the work of architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof. The Republic’s second city now has an entrance befitting a place that welcomes 25,000 people every day.
The striking brutalist structure, built in 1988, has been cleaned, neatened, and brightened up with a coat of light-coloured paint which visually opens up the space. A construction technically and functionally unique to anything else in Europe, the steel lattice structure of the shelter roof has also undergone work. Despite its scope, the project has managed to preserve the original building’s structure, while also repurposing a public space into a functional art piece adapted for the needs of modern travellers. Above all, it delivers greater throughput and more logical division of operations, but also a newly created departure hall, which has been built in the organic shape of a wave, with the entire northern side of the bus station opened up towards the city. The building’s concrete structure is beautifully accented in black, reflecting its industrial setting and the old factory brickwork of the neighbouring Vaňkovka shopping centre, as well as the official colour of the city of Brno.
The red wave of the departure lounge bridges the key space between the ticket offices and refreshment stops, while the equally colourful furniture from Czech designer mmcité’s Pixel range, winner of a Red Dot Design Award, adorns the waiting room. Playfulness, creativity and irregularity are words which immediately spring to mind when met with Pixel for the first time. Pixel modules can be fitted with backrests, armrests and even flowerbeds depending on the buyer’s needs. A cornerstone of this project was to add green space to create an oasis of relaxation for travellers. Thanks to Pixel and its built-in flowerbeds, plants can become an integral part of the seating arrangement, and also serve to visually break up this otherwise hectic space.
“Pixel is one of our most creative seating solutions,” comments David Karásek on behalf of mmcité, going on to add, “The steel perch seats can be placed anywhere in a seating area, and combining their square forms allows you to create almost endless arrangements. Pixel becomes even better suited to this project when you consider the optional extras we offer, such as armrests for the elderly, built-in coffee tables, as well as USB charging, which is especially valuable to travellers.”
The base of the red wave has also become home to Lotlimit bicycle stands, whose simple form mirrors the design of the roof, and outdoor seating options at the site have not been ignored either thanks to securely anchored arrangements of Bistrot tables and chairs, also by mmcité.
Zvonařka in numbers
85 variable Pixel modules in an eyecatching red colour
20 Bistrot sets
34 Crystal litter bins
30 Lotlimit bicycle stands
“We use mmcité furniture in our projects all the time thanks to their class-leading quality and carefully considered design. Pixel’s playfulness and inherent variability made it the obvious choice from the moment we started planning an indoor seating space at Zvonařka,” explains architect Ondřej Chybík.
