Venray Station

The Province of Limburg is to upgrade the Maaslijn, the railway link between Nijmegen and Roermond. As part of this, the Municipality of Venray has asked Karres en Brands to help remodel the station and its environment into a veritable public-transport hub. 

In recent decades, the station environment has expanded by about 400 metres in length, yet the station building has remained untouched, somewhat losing its impact on the surrounding area. Our task is essentially to ensure the station connects with its environment and reinforce the value that users experience. By restructuring functions and separating traffic flows, this creates more space and clarity for travellers to and from the station. Three canopies and a striking green structure will make the building more striking and provide a reference point within the elongated area. This form the basis for quality assurance in terms of flow, safety, convenience, orientation, liveability, and experience. Venray Station becomes an attractive and inviting environment, even to while away the time. 

The ‘family of canopies’ will create a coherent station area. The bus platform will occupy a central position with its own canopy to provide shelter, taking up a clear spot in the station environment. A second canopy accommodates a new tourist interchange, with information about what to do in Venray and the surrounding area, plus a map with cycling and walking routes. 

The central awning is separate from the station, but acts as an extension of it, welcoming travellers arriving on foot, by car, by bike, or by bus. An open, airy structure that is clearly recognisable from afar, from both the northern and southern approaches to the station. The central canopy and the station building form a strong couple – the beating heart of the new station environment.