The Rush Hour project is initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport to accelerate the transformation of the German railway infrastructure, including modernizing its train stations. For many decades, the rail infrastructure has been neglected, leading to failing rush hours at stations with overcrowded platforms and unprecedented delays. Digitalization is regarded as the future backbone of the train station by optimizing transport efficiency and user experience. Berlin Westhaven has been chosen as the most suitable site, responding to the client’s ambition of creating a digital and transport node as the urban anchor. Westhaven is situated between the city center and a large urban tech development. The station aims to become a highly efficient transport node during peak travel times, simultaneously acting as a destination and gateway of an innovative ecosystem. The main users are local commuters, tech workers, and TU Berlin students. A benchmarking study of existing train stations, in combination with client and site requirements, resulted in a design brief for a train station with an integrated data center.

This architectural history thesis looks at the interrelationship between transport, land-use and architecture. A systematic comparison of the these three systems at key time periods contributed to the collective puzzle of answering the main research question; ‘How has the evolution of the transport system, with main focus on the railway system, impacted the development of the city Lille throughout time?’.

The transport systems of major European cities have played a vital role in their economic and urban development, forming networks that facilitate the flow of energy, people, and goods. Lille, located near the French-Belgian border, has two stations from different railway eras: Lille-Flandres (since 1846) and Lille-Europe (since 1990). The transformation of these stations has been driven by capacity demands and the need to adapt to rapid growth and limited space. Lille-Europe, in particular, has acted as a catalyst for the city’s economic transformation from a secondary to a tertiary sector.

The architecture of the station areas reflects the interplay between local and global contexts, with Lille-Flandres embodying a fusion of Flemish, French, and Parisian styles, while Lille-Europe represents a modern and cross-border vision. This architectural evolution sparks a debate between preserving local identity and embracing universal design principles. The station areas serve as a visual expression of Lille’s dynamic evolution and the changing nature of transportation systems.