Amsterdam Central Station

Description

A remarkable newcomer in the eastern part of the bus station: a new waiting area and workspace for GVB, EBS and Connexxion bus drivers, designed by Benthem Crouwel Architects.

This is an area where drivers can rest, catch up or do some other work in between their routes. The waiting area – which has been dubbed ‘biscuit tin’ (as the brother of the ‘rusk tin’ on the other side of the platform) – is more than 7 metres high, 13 metres long and 3 metres wide. The wooden building kit was assembled in the summer of 2015, after which a skin of Prokol hotspray was applied.

Challenge

The application of a finish on a wooden base that had to be as tight as possible was a challenge. The sheet seams – and accompanying risks of crack formation – provided an extra threat. Another difficulty lay in the spraying of small interior spaces, as well as of the stairs and doors.

Solution

The seams were sanded and provided with a special filler. They were then sanded again to create smooth transitions. After this, a special sealing primer was applied on the base.

A layer of Rocathaan Hotspray PA 136-T with a thickness of 3 mm was applied as a seamless skin. Rocathaan Hotspray PA 136-T has crack-bridging properties and absorbs any movement from the base.

Finally, a coloured top coating had to be applied on the entire structure. The exterior was finished in white and the interior was finished in red.

Final result

The architect, and especially the users of the area were extremely satisfied with the final result. Despite the red colour, the room radiates warmth and tranquillity. The seamless finish is also easy to maintain.