LÁ-SÁCH House by Atelier tho.A

The Cesson-Viasilva Park and Ride Bus Station, designed byAteliers O-SArchitectes, is a groundbreaking multi-modal transport hub located in Cesson-Sévigné, France. Covering 32,200 m², this 2024 project redefines suburban mobility while acting as an urban catalyst in the new Atalante ViaSilva district. The station seamlessly integrates sustainable infrastructure, public transport accessibility, and innovative architectural design to serve commuters, cyclists, and electric vehicle users.

Sustainable Mobility and Environmental Design

As a key link in the Rennes metropolitan area's sustainable mobility network, the Park and Ride Bus Station prioritizes eco-friendly transport solutions. Its carbon-conscious design integrates a solar power system on the roof, electric car parking, and energy-efficient LED lighting, all while minimizing the facility’s environmental footprint. This approach supports both urban sustainability goals and the advancement of green transportation technologies.

Architectural Concept and Structure

The project comprises two interconnected buildings, each tailored to specific functions:

• Triangular Building: Featuring rounded angles and clad in vertical metal strips, this structure houses the vehicle access ramps and a 200-place bicycle storage area, encouraging active mobility.
• Oblong Building: Resembling an ancient Roman circus, this building includes a bus station on the ground floor and upper-level park-and-ride facilities, characterized by plate-glass blades that offer transparency and an inspiring urban presence.

The concrete structural system allows future adaptability, enabling the facility to transform into office spaces or residential units as urban needs evolve. The design balances robust mineral materiality with light, transparent upper volumes, creating an architecture that is both functional and visually striking.

User Comfort and Accessibility

User comfort is central to the station’s design. Access between floors is facilitated by three lifts and a monumental glazed staircase, while core vertical circulation ensures quick and intuitive movement. The bus station receives abundant natural light, and its ceiling lined with larch wood strips adds warmth and a welcoming atmosphere.

The facility is designed as a signal building for independent users. The reception pavilion is a lightweight, open structure with a metal framework and anodized aluminum cladding, functioning as a light filter and clearly signaling the building’s purpose.

Circulation and Urban Integration

The station’s vehicular layout optimizes traffic flow across its 815 parking spaces, employing one-way circulation lanes for simplicity and safety. Pedestrian access is seamless, connecting parking levels, the bus station, and the adjacent metro station. The continuous rising façade band emphasizes the station’s urban presence, transforming it from a conventional car park into a landmark infrastructure project.

This Park and Ride Bus Station demonstrates how infrastructure design can transcend its functional purpose, offering architectural innovation, sustainable solutions, and enhanced commuter experiences in the suburban landscape.

All photographs are works of  Cyrille Weiner