Bus station, Baramathi (India)

Travelling village square

Symbolic of the importance of infrastructure in an India undergoing an economic boom, the Baramathi bus station in the centre of the country reflects a change of era.

Thirty years ago, such a facility would probably only have been considered from a functional point of view: a graceless terminal with no ambition other than to transfer passengers.

Instead, architects Sunil Patil & Associates Pvt Ltd wanted to turn this transit zone into a place in its own right, a landmark in the life of this small town of 60,000 inhabitants.

The layout of the buildings provides a central location away from traffic and bustle.

A large roof protects passengers from the rain or the sun, creates a patio in this central square and treats the station as one of the monuments in the city. Seen from a distance, the whole complex could be viewed as a large house, providing users with a quiet stopover before boarding.

The malleability of zinc and its ability to take on organic shapes were the primary reasons for choosing this material, which is laid standing seam on a metal structure raised some ten metres above the ground.

The roof as a whole is made up of the same material including the curved bull nose and extensive soffit.

Durability and the need to reduce maintenance were deciding factors in the choice of zinc in conjunction with brick, another hard-wearing material that is a welcome addition to a programme subject to harshness of use that is mitigated by the gentle curves of its roof.