Výstaviště Tram Stop

The tram stop in Prague is a full-fledged urban amenity structure and demonstrates the possibilities of using high-strength concrete in conjunction with robotic 3D printing for creating street furniture. The stop is covered with Plexiglas, which protects passengers not only from the weather, but also from direct sunlight thanks to its gradient surface. The shelter is eight meters long, which means it offers space for four times more passengers than a standard-sized tram stop.

At night, the tram stop is illuminated from several light sources, located both on the ceiling of the ribbed structure and on a freestanding lamp. The tram stop includes other functional elements – a bike rack, a bench, and a digital panel.

The design of the tram stop utilizes the natural principles of the distribution of internal forces (pressure and tensile stress) in the structure, which makes the resulting design not only unique but also extremely efficient. Structural analysis was performed during the design stage, and topology optimization was used to reduce the volume of material used while maintaining the required aesthetic and structural qualities. The resulting ribbed shape reflects the actual behavior of the structure under load, illustrating the forces that are within it. Thanks to topology optimization, we have managed to save 60% of the originally designed material.