METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

Aim :
• To create a space which can form the node for holding and experiencing metro,
commercial, cultural and social activities.
LITERATURE STUDY • It is in a way a hybrid between a metro hub and a commercial centres at a much reduced
scale
• To design an innovative and functional metro train station that seamlessly integrates a
commercial mall, enhancing commuter experience, optimizing space utilization, and
Explores the transformative fusion of metropolitan areas with fostering economic viability.
integrated urban complexes, dissecting their symbiotic relationship
Objective :
and multifaceted impacts. It delves into the harmonized
• Enhancing Commuter Experience: Investigate how the integration of commercial
convergence of commercial, transport and cultural elements within
spaces within a metro station can enhance the overall experience for commuters,
these spaces, analyzing challenges and pathways toward creating
offering convenience and amenities during their travels.
resilient, inclusive, and vibrant urban environments.
• Space Optimization: Explore architectural and design strategies to efficiently utilize
space within the metro station, ensuring a harmonious blend of transportation
Metro Commercial functionality and commercial areas.
• Economic Viability: Assess the economic feasibility and potential benefits for
Station Mall Urban Relevance stakeholders, including revenue generation, increased foot traffic for retailers, and the
impact on the local economy.
• Sustainable Design: Incorporate sustainable design principles into the station and mall
By, integrating commercial and retail stores within a metro train station can
layout to minimize environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices.
offer a lot of convenience and utility to commuters. It can be a win-win
situation for both the businesses and the commuters. The accessibility and • User Behavior and Flow: Analyze user behavior within the integrated space to optimize
foot traffic generated by a metro station can provide a steady stream of traffic flow, maximize accessibility, and create an environment conducive to both
potential customers for the retail stores. shopping and commuting.
Justification :
Multifunctional • Urban Integration: In modern cities, transportation hubs play a pivotal role in urban life.
Peak Traffic time Spaces Integrating commercial spaces within a metro station addresses the need for
multifunctional urban spaces, offering convenience and accessibility to commuters while
fostering economic growth.
• Efficient Land Use: With the growing scarcity of space in urban areas, combining
transportation infrastructure with commercial spaces optimizes land use, creating
User Centric
multifunctional areas that serve various purposes.
Design • Economic Stimulus: The integration of commercial areas within a metro station
stimulates economic activity, attracting businesses, increasing employment
opportunities, and contributing to the local economy.
• User-Centric Design: Designing spaces that cater to the
needs of commuters and shoppers aligns with the evolving
demands of modern urban living, emphasizing convenience and
Impact of society accessibility.
and environment
Sustainability and
Efficiency Why Sholinganallur?
History: The CMRL is Situating a metro in Sholinganallur which acts as a joint rail
for two phase rails. This station consist of 3 platforms in which one
•Ancient Trade Routes: Commercial hubs have historically platform is the end/last rail stop of the phase 4
emerged around vital trade routes, such as the Silk Road or ancient
seaports like Alexandria. These hubs facilitated the exchange of
goods, ideas, and cultures, becoming centers of commerce and
prosperity.
•Market Towns and Fairs: Throughout history, market towns and Transit Oriented Development:
periodic fairs served as gathering points for traders, merchants, and Many cities are focusing on developing mixed-use
buyers, fostering economic activity and cultural exchange. These spaces around transit stations, integrating residential,
hubs were often situated along major transportation routes, commercial, and recreational areas to encourage
encouraging commerce. Challenges and Innovation walkability and reduce reliance on cars.

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

Why a Metro Station?

Metro Station are the most important transport system in city that is thriving among

SPECIAL STUDY everyone. The wide range of metro stations growing the city and more users are preferring
metro than road way. In January 2023, a total of 66,07,458 have travelled followed by
63,69,282 in February; 69,99,341 in March; 66,85,432 in April; 72,68,007 in May; 74,06,876
in June; 82,53,692 in July and 85,89,977 in August.

Efficient Land Use: With

Space Optimization: Explore the growing scarcity of
architectural and design strategies to space in urban areas,
efficiently utilize space within the metro combining transportation
station, ensuring a harmonious blend infrastructure with
of transportation functionality and commercial spaces
commercial areas. Sustainable Design: Incorporate sustainable optimizes land use, creating
design principles into the station and mall multifunctional areas that
layout to minimize environmental impact and serve various purposes.
promote eco-friendly practices.

Interactive Response
Architecture Environment
Interaction Trinity

Enhancing Commuter Experience:

Investigate how the integration of
Economic Viability: Assess the People commercial spaces within a metro
economic feasibility and potential station can enhance the overall
benefits for stakeholders, including experience for commuters, offering
revenue generation, increased foot convenience and amenities during their
traffic for retailers, and the impact on travels.
the local economy.

User Behavior and Flow: Analyze user behavior within the integrated space to
optimize traffic flow, maximize accessibility, and create an environment
conducive to both shopping and commuting.

A specialized focus on metro and mall design entails a comprehensive approach that addresses both transportation and retail needs. Emphasis is placed on optimizing spatial layouts for efficient crowd flow, ensuring seamless
integration of public transit and shopping areas. Sustainable and innovative design principles are employed to create environmentally friendly, energy-efficient spaces. User experience is a priority, with considerations for accessibility,
wayfinding, and amenities. Technology integration, such as smart infrastructure and digital connectivity, plays a crucial role in enhancing
convenience. The design also strives to reflect local culture and community preferences, fostering a sense of place. Flexibility in design allows
for adaptability to evolving urban dynamics and changing retail trends. Ultimately, this specialized study aims to create urban spaces that are
not only functional but also contribute positively to the overall urban experience.
THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD
 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

Reservoir Station, Australia

LITERATURE CASE STUDY

•Architects: Genton
•Area: 8492 m²
•Year: 2020
•Lead Architects: Marc Debney
•Landscape: McGregor Coxall
Recycled Glass Sand The Circulation escalators core equally split are both sides of
the metro station same as lift core placed in between the
escalators connected the two parts of the metro at the
platform level

Black Concrete

Sustainability initiatives in Genton’s

design approach – such as the use of
Sheltering the space from the harshness of surrounding recycled glass sand in the concrete, the
roads, the ground level external walls are conceived as inclusion of rainwater storage and
barriers, employing a robust material palette of black remote metering of water and energy
Stainless Steel concrete and light stainless steel cladding, while brown consumption – saw Reservoir Station
bricks in the station forecourt allude to the suburban inter- recognised as the first Five-Star
war and post-war Architecture of the area. Greenstar Rail Building in Victoria. The
design of the station has both created a
central beacon for the suburb, informed
by history of the place, while also
reconnecting the two retail high streets,
The design of Reservoir Station was driven by a desire to reconnect with the local cultural and social context, while embracing the opportunity enhancing safety and activation of the
to re-imagine the multi-modal transport hub. Genton capitalised on the introduction of an elevated rail corridor as a way to unify the retail and area with transformational benefits that
community centre of Reservoir through the creation of a new public space under an iconic piece of Architecture in the centre of the suburb that will develop over the years to come.
would act as a geographical beacon within the surrounding municipality.

Whether viewed up close or in motion by commuters, the canopy’s angles and undulations interact with
Roof Level light in a manner that reflects the nature of rippling water — inspired by Reservoir’s history as the key
water infrastructure of Melbourne,

The design solution wraps the elevated platform in a translucent canopy large enough to define the
station as a prominent civic landmark. The structure is divided into a larger and smaller canopy, and,
Platform Level
with the opposing angles of these canopies acting as an arch to define the edges of the new ground-
level public space.
Genton’s approach to
designing Reservoir Station capitalises on
the elevated rail corridor — a recent
addition, and the first in Melbourne’s
The outcome is a clear visual connection between Edwardes Street and Broadway, with the central
Northern suburbs — to create
connection of a ground-level public forecourt forming a stepping-stone for pedestrians and commuters
transformative dialogue between Concourse Level moving between the two high streets.
Reservoir’s previously disconnected high
streets.

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

Mega Food Walk, Thailand

LITERATURE CASE STUDY

Architects: FOS
Area: 58000 m² Site Plan
Year: 2018
Legend
1.Drop off
2.Green Island
3.Amphitheater
4.Multi purpose space
5.Landscape Boardwalk
6.Mega Plaza
7.Old Food Walk
8.Main Building Entrance
9.Parking
10.Internal Road
Circulation Diagram

The result is a key stone building perfectly fit in its

strategic location, connecting from all directions on all
Reconnecting Urban Life with Nature Through A Flowing Shopping Experience levels. At the same time, a new courtyard space acts
as a green social space for all walks of life
Simultaneously, network of walkways along shopfronts on every level is connected to the existing corridor and a new car parki ng building via link bridges
and covered walkway to complete a seamless circulation system between the two phases without dead end.
Moreover, A series of minimum 1:15 sloping walkways are positioned continuously, descending from upper to lower levels, to cr eate an experience of "hill
walk". It results in increased salable areas on the lower floor but also an infinite loop of spiral circulation, circling end lessly on all levels.

The sheer size of Megabangna shopping complex

is as large as a small town. Its central building is
perceived as a downtown, whereas Foodwalk zone
on the east wing is portrayed as countryside with
more green areas and canals. The new extension
of retail zone located on the eastern periphery Existing Mega bangna shopping complex needs
beyond the existing zone could then be more retail areas and car parking spaces due to its
conceptualized as a "Valley". The architectural increasing number of customers in recent years
concept of the new extension, "The Valley",
therefore derives from the geographic character of
its metaphor. The layout of the new open-air mall is
composed around a central courtyard space, in
which a sunken plaza with an amphitheatre down
below acts as a customers‚ main social space for
gathering and holding all kinds of events.
Continuing from the sunken plaza on the bottom
level, the sloping green area in the middle of the
layout, called "the Hill", ascends to connect with the
existing Mega Plaza on level 1. The Hill is intended Place new retails in U shape surrounding new plaza
to be a relaxing space where people can immerse and link to plot l’s green area
themselves into the lush landscape.

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

Watermark West Quay, Southampton

LITERATURE CASE STUDY

Architects: ACME
Minimum offsets to
Area: 70,000 m² The Site context a mid-levels
Year: 2017

+ + + =

Protected View and Cinema footprint

ABP Culvert and massing above

With a ‘BREEAM Excellent’ rating, the building’s unique

cladding and cantilever design has created an architectural
landmark on the south coast. Following the granting of
planning permission in February 2014, the scheme was
completed in February 2017.

Brown and white concrete building under white clouds during daytime

Watermark WestQuay is the first part of a major redevelopment of a key area within Southampton’s town
centre designed by ACME. e new scheme contains a 10-screen multiplex cinema, bowling alley, 24
restaurants and cafés, and a new public plaza and esplanade. Created for Hammerson, Watermark sits
adjacent to their WestQuay Shopping Centre, drawing the development towards the sea. A soaring
cantilevered box wrapped in a skin of curving silver tubes projects out over the new square, signalling the
development from the city as a hub of activity.
The WestQuay masterplan addresses Southampton’s historic role as a main thoroughfare for cruise
ships and trade. During the course of the twentieth century the shoreline has become distanced from the
local population, moving progressively further away from the medieval town walls that historically marked
the waterfront, due in part to a series of port facilities and industrial buildings, such as the former Pirelli
factory.
It centres around a new public plaza, flanked by the Town Walls and a set of tapering steps leading down
from the lower promenade, creating a natural auditorium in which to host a range of events. Lined with
restaurants that open up onto the square, this flexible space will become a scene of lively activity
throughout the summer months.

Passivent collaborated with a multi-functional team from Lakesmere to ensure the design fully met Hoare Lee’s specification. Passivent’s technical team
supported Lakesmere in calculating the quantity and size of ventilators needed to meet the total free area of 44.54m², as well as producing bespo ke
drawings for a total of 157 Aircool ventilators supplied across eight different curtain walling screens in various areas of the development. The complex
project needed significant programme management by Passivent who liaised with Lakesmere to ensure that the ventilators were manufactured and
delivered on time and in the volumes required to enable the phased build. Thanks to a well-managed design period at the beginning of the project,
installation on site ran smoothly and ensured that the risk of product damage whilst on site was minimised.
The Aircool ventilators were installed at both high and low levels within the curtain walling façade to ensure a good through -flow of air. Passivent also
Uplighting is employed along the Town Wall providing a richly textured backdrop to the scheme at night, supplied a number of ‘blank’ units for continuity of appearance where there was no need for actual ventilation. Aircool units were designed to suit the multi
while all lighting to the public realm is provided from the building itself and the trees, ensuring the plaza is angled façade, with bespoke louvres custom manufactured to suit the faceted curtain walling system.
clutter-free and focusing attention of the ancient Walls.

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

ARIGNAR ANNA ALANDUR METRO STATION, CHENNAI

LIVE CASE STUDY

Parking: Climate: Tropical Wet & Dry Climate

No. of Floors: G+2 Floors
1500 Two Wheelers Typology: Transportation
180 Four Wheelers Proximity: Alandur bus stop
Asarkana Omni Bus Stop
Cantonment Board
Kathipara Junction
Material: Floor – Marble
Roof – Galvalume sheet &
Polycarbonate Sheet
Wall – Concrete
Alandur metro station is an elevated metro station that is part of
the Blue Line and the Green Line of the Chennai Metro, and Height: 36m
serves as an interchange station between the two lines. The
station is one of the two metro stations where the two lines
intersect, the other being the Chennai Central metro station.
Structure:
Lighting:
Commuters Survey
Natural: Artificial:
On Level 1 at 8.6 m
Report Estimate Footfall
On Level 2 at 17.2 m

Circulation:
4 + 4 Escalators Core Spaces
4 + 4 Straight The steel trusses are use in the roofing. Truss bridges are used
Staircase on the interjoining and connections of the trusses
2 Fire Staircase
2 lifts

Lift
Entry & Lobby
Staircase & Escalator
Fire Staircase

The Column in level 2 following the column is

Images:

cut on the top half and semi sphere steel plates

are placed connecting the truss on the roof
giving it a support on the curved roof structure

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB
01
MANTRI SQUARE METRO,
VADAPALANI METRO, CHENNAI BANGALORE
LIVE CASE STUDY LIVE CASE STUDY
Mantri Square Sampige Road is an important elevated
Vadapalani is an elevated metro station on the South-East Corridor of the Green Line of Chennai metro station on the North-South corridor of the Green
Metro in Chennai, India. This station serves the neighbourhoods Line of Namma
of Vadapalani and Kodambakkam and is one of the major stations on the Koyambedu -Alandur floor.
stretch and became operational by early 2015. Metro serving
the Malleswaram area
Structure: of Bangalore, India. The station
The steel frame plates are fixed to the column was constructed by Mantri
and aligning with the shell frame roof structure. Developers and consists of two
basements, one ground and one
Column on the upper
platform level
As of 2013, about 11,000 vehicles pass through the
section on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai between
Kathipara and Vadapalani and 12,000 vehicles pass
through the Vadapalani-Koyambedu section during
peak hours. A total of 185,000 vehicles use the road
every day.
Roof
Ride, Slide, Swipe - Shopping made easier
Artificial Lighting is used at Night time mainly
Parking: LED Lights
Mall Entrance
2 Wheeler – Available No. of Floors: G+3
4 Wheeler – Not Available Vertical Zoning:
Bridge
Train Platform Signalling panel is
Circulation: placed above the rail
4 Escalators Ticket Counter track hanging from the
4 Straight Staircase trusses of the roof panel

Platform 1
Service Floor

Platform 2
2 Fire Staircase
2 lifts Checking

The station area covers around 80,000 sq feet. A bridge connecting the station to the first floor of the
mall was inaugurated on 20 August 2014. This was the first bridge in India directly linking a metro
station with a mall.
A leaner passage which passes through from the parking space of the
Connectivity to the Mall
metro to the back entrance of the mall. The passage is more
populated than the main entrance as the users of the mall travel
through the metro
The two platforms are connected
services for their need. There are 2 apartment
with a bridge which has a
entrances coming in between the passage
separate entrance to the mall.
where vehicular movement has more rapid
Additional ticket counter and
Cluster. The circulation of this passage vary in
pass gates are also kept for the
different timings and on different days
mall users
2 Minutes Walk from the metro to mall

Images:
Images:

THESIS 2024 BATCH

BATCH 2019-24
2019-24 || 113719251005
113719251005 || ANTONY
ANTONY GEORGE
GEORGE | CAAD
 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

NEXUS VIJAYA MALL, CHENNAI

LIVE CASE STUDY

SPATIAL ANALYSIS:
Nexus Vijaya Mall: This mall has approx 650,000 square feet of retail
space. More than 100 shops occupy its four floors. This mall distinguishes itself
by being local by housing Chennai-based brands in the mall such as Spar
Hypermarket, RmKV, Lifestyle, Max, Westside, Fab India and Via South.It is also
home to PVR Cinemas' Palazzo multiplex and an IMAX screen as well.
Circulation in Nexus Mall:
There are 4 escalators in the
ground floor and 6 in first floor.2
LEGENDS Lifts in atrium.
Ground floor
Vertical Zoning:
Focus Point
Fun city
Pause Point Theatre and Food Court
Electronics and toys
Food Shops
Clothes, Accessories and Theatre – Palazzo
Service Lift from Restaurants Cinemas
• 8 Screens + 1 IMAX
First floor Loading Bay • Capacity – 2200 approx
• Renaissance Themed

Similar Shops

Restroom

Structure: Material:
Service Lift
Floating Column Marble
Ordinary Column Aerocon Partition Wall
Second floor
Column – Are mostly Clad
Loading Bay: Located at the end Lighting:
Services - Nexus Mall: side of the mall near the parking Atrium – At day time the natural lighting
entrance the other one is place will brightens the space and at night time
next to the back entrance LED lights are used which are places on
the floor planes on the above floors
The fire exit doors are made
of camouflage door so that
the user wont have a visual
discomfort Roof:
Type of Truss: Bowstring Truss
No. of Fire Exists In Lower Ground – 8 Material Used: Steel
No. of Fire Exists In 1st,2nd,3rd Each - 9 Top and Bottom Chords: Steel Tubes
No. of Fire Exists In 4th - 5 Web Members: Steel I Section
Anchor Shops:
Rent: Anchor Stores are the stores which drive in the crowd, so per sq ft
rent of anchor store is less than the other stores as the other stores Parking:
benefit from the customers who come to the anchor The parking entrance Mall
store. is at the back side of
Medium Size the mall… The users 2 wheeler parking
Mall Under Ground
Anchor Store
Stores Large Size have to go around the
20000 – 40000 sqft Basement 1
800 – 1500 sqft Stores Kiosks building.
Basement 2
150 – 300 sqft 45 – 130 sqft
Average Footfall:

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD

 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT INTERCHANGE AND CIVIC SQUARE : A SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL HUB

MANTRI SQUARE MALL, BANGALORE

LIVE CASE STUDY

Mantri Square offers a variety of retail and lifestyle options, set on a vast site. The race track mall features five levels of Circulation:
Zoning :
retail as well as four levels for parking and entertainment. The Mantri Square site previously housed a textile mill
Klaus Multi parking systems is used
famous for its silk fabrics. The interior design of Mantri Square therefore incorporates the rich history of the site through
at this mall Metro
its architectural forms and finishes. The eye-shaped roof structure is made from tensile fabric and clear glass and
The Parking system works from one
covers the entertainment areas. Supported by 17 trusses, the sophisticated roof design allows natural light into the
end of starting to other end of exit
building. At night, dynamic lighting transforms the roof into a seemingly moving fabric.
which maintains the same road
Site Size 83600 sqm
Malleshwaram:
Third Floor • One of Bangalore’s early Bus
residential extensions (laid out in
1900-01)
• Well planned area
• Densified and transformed over
time
• Growing population, growing
vehicles and traffic congestion
• Retains charm, remains a prime,
Second Floor upper middle-high income Core Spaces:
neighbourhood
• 10 fire staircase
About Mall: • 4 Escalators staircase
• 5 department stores – Lifestyle, Mark& spencer, Reliance Trends, Pantaloons and • 5 Lifts
shoppers stop – all under one roof
• Over 10,000 brands across apparel footwear, accessories and other lifestyle
product
• Over 250 outlets selling a wide variety of merchandise and offering the best of
national and international brands
• 39 options in F&B – from the food court (with the largest food court in bangalore
with over 1,000 seats) to 4 fine dining restaurants to fast food outlets to coffee Passage OTS Main Atrium
First Ground Floor shops, juice bas and lounge bars As the floor Lighting: Only one passage uses
• A 6 theatre multiplex with a 71 seater gold class rises the number of fire artificial lighting at daytime
• Over 20,000 sq.mtrs of food, leisure & entertainment exits reduces

Features: Section:
• India’s Largest Tensile Roof spanning 100ft x 350ft and also hence ensuring
optimum usage of natural light
• The column layout of the mall is placed on a grid iron pattern
• Number of Stores and Services : 252
• Number of anchor tenants : 6
• Total retail floor area: 1,000,000 sqft (93,000 sqm)
Upper Ground Floor • Parking : 1800 car parks and 500 two wwheelers
Area of Shop Size
Smallest Size of the Shop – 18 sq.mtrs
Largest Size of the Shop – 471 sq.mtrs
Avg. Size – 115 sq.mtrs

Zoning – the division of mall space into zones for the placement of various retailers
• Tenant mix refers to the combination of retail shops occupying space in a mall
• A right tenant mix would form an gathering that produces optimum sales, rent, service to the community and
financiability of the shopping mall venture
• Generally, there are two types of consumers visiting mall : 1)Focused buyers and 2) impulse buyers
• The time spent by focused buyers in malls is relatively lower compared with impulse buyers wwho also enjoy
wwindow shopping
Lower Ground Floor

THESIS 2024 BATCH 2019-24 | 113719251005 | ANTONY GEORGE | CAAD