goods station
on the drawing board
2022-2023
responsibility
urban planning & identity design
programme
17.000 sqm mixed-use development
location
birmingham, uk
on the drawing board
2022-2023
responsibility
urban planning & identity design
programme
17.000 sqm mixed-use development
location
birmingham, uk
a rich history
a long time ago
Once upon a time, the square was the beating heart of the village. This was the place where villagers would gather to exchange news and gossip, to make and trade goods, and to celebrate life’s milestones together. From the morning markets to the evening gatherings, the square was always buzzing with activity and energy.
recent
Villages have now grown into cities. In the city, the square remains a central point but people often live far away from the buzz. Differrent functions are seperated from each other, with long commutes. All the different aspects of life such as work, social life and leisure are now scattered.
future
This is the vertical village: a network of lively public spaces, spread around multiple levels. Public life is happening on every floor. People live, work, play, make and meet in close proximity, just like the old days but with a modern verticality.
Back in the days, the location was a bustling place thanks to the small manufacturers that lived in traditional houses, with the workshop at the front and the living quarters in the back.
During the Industrial Revolution, the area thrived as a home to a goods depot and central railway station.
At Goods Station, the make and trade heritage is combined with living and playing.
design ingredients
From the history of the site, we distilled a set of design ingredients that formed the foundations for the identity of the square, in materials, shapes and colours.
an identity of makers
Next to the spatial vision, we created the identity for Goods Station. Starting from the historical research, we were responsible for the naming, programming, and complete graphic identity. From wayfinding systems to visual storytelling, the branding translates the area’s industrial heritage into a contemporary design language, establishing not just a development, but a memorable urban destination.
facts & figures
total area 17.000 sqm mixed-use
concrete
responsibility identity design, masterplan, architecture
team rob wagemans, erikjan vermeulen, sofie ruytenberg, maarten de geus, joan doyer, rene kroondijk, frederique van vuure, angela solis jara, sebastiaan kaal, beata karlsson, nicholas wenham
partners & collaborators
client vita group, uk
local executive architect simpsonhaugh, uk
landscape integration lda design, uk
planning consultancy turley, uk
