Central Bus Station Hanover

The new Central Bus Station (ZOB) in Hanover redefines a place where previously there were unclear spatial edges and a low quality of stay. Like a light, gently shimmering cloud, the roof designed by Werner Sobek offers protection from the weather and creates space for imagination. Its form is simple and convincing and provides the required urban presence. The dynamic soffit also corresponds to the dynamics of the site.

Dynamic Shaping through Alignment with the Course of Forces

The approx. 1,400 m² roof structure consists of an orthogonal support grid made of welded hollow steel sections. This grid is hinged on round steel supports that are positioned at a maximum distance of 12 m from each other. While the upper edge of the structure runs almost horizontally 6.5 m above the ground, the lower edges of the profiles change. This creates a dynamic, wave-like soffit. The chosen form is extremely advantageous in terms of structural engineering, as the higher profiles of the structure above the supports provide maximum stiffness in the area of the supporting moment acting there.

The project was awarded a commendation at the 2016 German Steel Construction Engineering Prize.