Intermodal Node in Piața Presei Libere – Bucharest

Authors’ Comment

The project proposes an intermodal transport hub, developed on a site with remarkable urban potential, located at the northern gateway of Bucharest, near Piața Presei Libere. This triangular urban island is defined by three major mobility axes: the Expoziției Underpass, the future Piața Montreal metro station (M6), and the terminal stops for several bus and tram lines. Currently, connections between these transport modes are fragmented, and the site remains an unvalorized “pause” in the urban fabric.

The intervention envisions an intermodal building that integrates bus, tram, and metro terminals into a single functional ensemble. The transfer process between transport modes is designed to be efficient, intuitive, and sheltered—taking place within an architectural space conceived as an active, user-oriented, and welcoming transition zone.

In addition to the transportation hub, the project includes a complementary function: a flexible office area adapted to post-pandemic realities. The workspaces are designed to be modular and adaptable, open to various configurations, and seamlessly integrated with both public and transport-related zones—becoming a natural extension of mobile urban life.

One of the project’s main objectives is to promote sustainable mobility by facilitating multimodal transfer and creating a coherent, attractive urban space. This approach supports the reduction of road congestion and contributes to improving urban quality of life.

The physical relationship between the transport hub and the office spaces is strengthened by a suspended walkway over the tram lines, allowing easy and protected movement between the project’s two main functions. The building’s volume aligns with the directions of the surrounding boulevards while maintaining a visual corridor towards Herăstrău Park. Its vertical massing is carefully articulated, transitioning from a marked vertical accent to the lower surrounding urban scale—ensuring a harmonious integration into the existing context.

Balancing functional efficiency, urban integration, and public space quality, the project becomes a multifunctional platform—a point of convergence between the city’s flows and the evolving needs of its users. Here, mobility is reimagined not as a tool for separation, but as a mechanism for urban connection.