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A trove information courtesy of a Vesuvius eruption - but not the one you may be thinking of
The village of Afragola was situated near present-day Naples
which lent a surprising degree of protection to the site
a rarity for archaeological sites from this era in Europe
Owing to the level of preservation and the diversity of preserved plants at the site
researchers were interested to see if they could pinpoint the time of year when the eruption occurred
The village of Afragola was excavated over an area of 5,000 square meters
making it among the most extensively investigated sites of the Early Bronze Age in Italy
with a large group of archaeologists who meticulously carried out the sampling
because Afragola was buried by a gigantic eruption of Vesuvius
and it tells us a lot about the people who lived there
by finding fruits and agricultural materials
due to archaeobotanical studies of Monica Stanzione we were able to identify the season of the eruption
which is usually impossible,” says Matarazzo
thanks to the multidisciplinary studies of the Italian research team that the course of the eruption happened in different phases
starting with a dramatic explosion that sent debris traveling primarily to the northeast
which is why the site does not contain human remains as other sites like Pompeii do
but it does contain several footprints of adults and children fleeing the area
bringing a copious amount of ash toward Afragola
“The last phase brought mostly ash and water – called the phreatomagmatic phase — mainly dispersed to the west and northwest up to a distance of about 25 km from the volcano,” Matarazzo explains
“This last phase is also what completely buried the village
The thick layer of volcanic material replaced the molecules of the vegetal macro-remains and produced perfect casts in a material called cinerite,” and these conditions meant the materials were resistant to degradation
“Leaves that were in the woods nearby were also covered by mud and ash which was not super-hot
so we have beautiful imprints of the leaves in the cinerite,” she says
The village offers a rare glimpse at how people lived in Italy in the Early Bronze Age
“These people probably lived in groups with maybe one or more persons was the head of the group.”
There was also one storage building in the village where all the grains and various agricultural goods and fruits were gathered from nearby woods to be stored and likely shared with the whole community
the plant food warehouse caught fire probably due to the arrival of pyroclastic materials
Its collapse made indirect carbonization of the stored vegetal materials possible
This study carried out by Italian archaeologists documents the Bronze Age Campanian Plain was home to a rich diversity of food sources
all extraordinarily well-preserved in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption
The evidence points toward the eruption happening in the fall
as the villagers amassed their food stores from the nearby woods
the imprints of leaves found at the base of the trees along with ripe fruits are very indicative of the seasonality
Matarazzo explains the area looks vastly different from the way it once was
“The reason we found the site is because of the construction of a high-speed train line
Italian researchers can reference the materials recovered from the site which are now housed off-site in a storage facility
The focus of future research includes a closer examination of animal bones found on site
“This eruption was so extraordinary that it changed the climate for many years afterward
The column of the Plinian eruption rose to basically the flight altitude of airplanes
The cover of ash was so deep that it left the site untouched for 4,000 years — no one even knew it was there
Now we get to learn about the people who lived there and tell their stories.”
This study would not have been possible without the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per l’Area Metropolitana di Napoli and the RFI-Italferr Team Ferrovie dello Stato Italiano
the interchange is the first phase of a larger development that will complete in 2022
construction began in 2015 with the building inaugurated in 2017
all images by hufton + crow
zaha hadid architects conceived the project as an ‘urbanized public bridge’ that connects the communities on either side of the railway
the station’s configuration is defined by its circulation routes
large entrances at both ends of the station guide visitors to elevated public zones lined with shops and other amenities
passengers from either side meet in a central atrium overlooked by cafés and restaurants
the project is intended as a gateway to southern italy
designed as an extruded trapezoid along its 450 meter curved path
the station’s elevated concourse is orientated at an angle from the railway tracks to improve its environmental performance
an integrated solar photovoltaic array and natural light and ventilation
as well as ground source cooling and heating systems
enable the station to minimize energy consumption
a central atrium is overlooked by cafés and restaurants
when all rail lines become operational by 2022
32,700 passengers are expected to use the station every day (approximately 12 million passengers each year)
with up to 4,800 local commuters using the station each morning and evening rush-hour
the project intends to relieve congestion in naples city center
but does not replace the existing terminus at napoli centrale
elevated public zones are lined with shops and other amenities
18 high speed trains currently move through the station on daily basis
the platforms offer views across the southern italian landscape
clear circulation routes help minimize walking distances
the project has been conceived as an ‘urbanized public bridge’
large entrances at both ends of the station welcome visitors
the station is located 12 kilometers north of naples
the interchange is the first phase of a larger development that will complete in 2022
name: stazione alta velocitá di napoli afragola location: napoli afragola
italy competition win: 2003 start of construction: may 2015 completion (phase 1): june 6
hospitality users: 32,700 passengers per day
the new station serves a population of over 3 million people living north of napoli
avellino and benevento travel time rome-napoli: 55 minutes procurement: competition total floor area: 30,000 sqm site area: 190,000 sqm retail/hospitality area: 10,000 sqm car park: 1,500 parking spaces
15 bus ranks main materials: 30,000 m3 of concrete; 4,500 t of steel; 5,600 t of metal carpentry; 20,000 sqm of cladding panel; 6,000 sqm of glass façade/cladding
(rete ferroviaria italiana) architect: zaha hadid architects design: zaha hadid & patrik schumacher project director: filippo innocenti project associate: roberto vangeli project architect (competition phase): filippo innocenti
paola cattarin site supervision team: marco guardincerri michele salvi: pasquale miele (bc
building consulting) design team: michele salvi; federico bistolfi; cesare griffa; paolo zilli; mario mattia; tobias hegemann; chiara baccarini; alessandra bellia; serena pietrantonj; roberto cavallaro; karim muallem; luciano letteriello; domenico di francesco; marco guardincerri; davide del giudice
competition team: fernando perez vera; ergian alberg; hon kong chee; cesare griffa; karim muallem; steven hatzellis thomas vietzke; jens borstelmann; robert neumayr; elena perez; adriano de gioannis; simon kim; selim mimita
consultants — structural engineering and geotechnics: akt – (hanif kara
paul scott); interprogetti – (giampiero martuscelli) environmental engineering
neil smith); studio reale – (francesco reale
vittorio criscuolo gaito) building regulation
co-ordination local team: interplan 2 srl – (alessandro gubitosi) costing: building consulting – (pasquale miele) fire safety: macchiaroli & partners srl – (roberto macchiaroli) landscape design: gross max – (eelco hooftman) transport engineering: JMP – (max matteis) acoustic design: paul guilleron acoustics – (paul guilleron) construction design: sair-geie – (prof
sylos labini); rocca bacci associati contractor: ati astaldi s.p.a (astaldi s.p
AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function
but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style
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Text description provided by the architects. The new rail station at Napoli Afragola is designed as one of southern Italy’s key interchange stations serving four high speed inter-city lines, three inter-regional lines and a local commuter line.
In addition to the planned high speed rail services connecting Bari and Reggio Calabria with the north of Italy and Europe, by 2022 new rail infrastructure will create an important hub at Napoli Afragola serving the entire Campania region by integrating the southern expansion of Italy’s high-speed rail network with the Napoli Cancello line and the Circumvesuviana commuter railway extension.
Site Plan Located at this major intersection within southern Italy’s rail network, Napoli Afragola connects the 15 million residents of Campania, Puglia, Molise, Calabria and Sicily in southern Italy with the national rail network in the north and the rest of Europe. It also enables goods and passengers from Europe and northern Italy to access the southern ports of Gioia Tauro, Taranto, Bari, Brindisi, Palermo and Augusta.
© Hufton+Crow To meet future demand for rail travel throughout the region (which has increased by 50% in the past decade) the Napoli Afragola station is within the new north/south rail corridor in the east of the greater Napoli metropolitan area that will be wholly integrated with local and regional rail services.
© Hufton+CrowPublic train services will begin on 11 June. Initially with 18 high speed trains in each direction serving 10,000 passengers per day, services will increase to 28 trains in each direction as new infrastructure and further phases of the station come on line.
SectionLocated 12km north of Naples, Afragola station is also planned to serve its local communities of Acerra, Afragola, Caivano, Casalnuovo di Napoli, and Casoria that vary in population from 10,000 to 50,000 residents. Afragola will be an intermodal hub, relieving congestion in the city centre and will not replace the existing Napoli Centrale terminus.
© Hufton+CrowDesigned as an urbanised public bridge connecting the communities on either side of the railway, the station is defined by the circulation routes of passengers, minimising distances for those embarking and alighting at Napoli Afragola as well those passengers connecting to different train services.
© Hufton+CrowThe design enlarges the public walkway over the eight railway tracks to such a degree that this walkway becomes the station’s main passenger concourse – a bridge housing all the services and facilities for departing, arriving and connecting passengers, with direct access to all platforms below.
© Hufton+CrowThe station has been constructed as a reinforced concrete base that supports an elevated concourse of steel ribs clad in Corian with a glazed roof.
© Hufton+CrowThe concrete used within the station is a specific composition that provides optimum performance, with curved structural concrete elements built using technologies initially developed during the construction of the MAXXI Museum in Rome: wooden formwork replaced by prefabricated steel units, and double-curves realised with formwork created from CNC milled polystyrene models.
PlanDesigned as an extrusion of a trapezoid along a 450m curved path, the elevated concourse is made of 200 differently shaped steel ribs that are clad in Corian with a glazed roof.
© Hufton+CrowThe main concourse of the station is oriented to benefit the building’s ecological sustainability
combined with natural light and ventilation as well as ground source cooling/heating systems will enable the station to minimise energy consumption
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The exterior of the Napoli Afragola train station
Public space outside the Napoli Afragola train station
A reinforced concrete base supports the elevated concourse of steel ribs clad in Corian® and topped off with a glazed roof. The curved structural concrete elements were built using technologies initially developed for the construction of the ZHA-designed MAXXI Museum in Rome
The wooden formwork was replaced by prefabricated steel units
and the double curves that define the sweeping form of the station's roof were realised with CNC milled polystyrene formwork
The station is an important part of the Italian train infrastructure – it serves four high speed inter-city lines
three inter-regional lines as well as a local commuter line
It is pivotal to the 15 million residents of Campania
Calabria and Sicily in southern Italy, and is also a national connection to the north of Italy and the rest of Europe
The future holds more for the rail station
High speed rail services will eventually connect with Bari and Reggio Calabria with the north of Italy and Europe
By 2022 the new rail infrastructure will serve the entire Campania region
integrating with the Napoli Cancello line and the Circumvesuviana commuter railway extension further to the south
For more information, visit the Zaha Hadid Architects website
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journalist and editor covering architecture
with particular interest in sustainability
After studying History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Journalism at City University in London
she developed her interest in architecture working at Wallpaper* magazine and today contributes to Wallpaper*, The World of Interiors and Icon magazine
She is author of The Sustainable City (2022
a book about sustainable architecture in London
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2023 8:39 PM(Credit: Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock)NewsletterSign up for our email newsletter for the latest science newsSign Up This article was originally published on Oct
About 4,000 years ago (and approximately 2,000 years before the burial of the city of Pompeii)
an early eruption of Mount Vesuvius cloaked another ancient village in a cover of volcanic ash
Today, the ashy remains of this village paint a nearly complete picture of ancient life in Southern Italy. And according to a new paper published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
this life featured a cornucopia of autumnal agricultural goods
Located about 10 miles to the west of Mount Vesuvius, the ancient village of Afragola was covered in a sheet of ash
silt and alluvial sediments when the volcano erupted around 4,000 years ago
making it ideal for archaeological investigation
"Afragola was buried by a gigantic eruption of Vesuvius, and it tells us a lot about the people who lived there," says Tiziana Matarazzo, a paper author and an anthropologist at the University of Connecticut, in a press release
"The cover of ash was so deep that it left the site untouched for 4,000 years — no one even knew it was there
Now we get to learn about the people who lived there and tell their stories."
After identifying the village as a result of a nearby construction project
Matarazzo and a team of archaeologists and anthropologists uncovered approximately 5,000 square meters of Afragola
This makes the village one of the most studied sites from this time period in Southern Italy
In addition to identifying shelters where villagers would have lived with their immediate families
the team also found a sizable storage structure in the village where grains and agricultural goods would have been stored and shared
Read More: Scientists Have Fully Sequenced the DNA of a Pompeii Victim for the First Time
The remains of this warehouse suggest that the villagers of Afragola profited from an abundance of food sources
pomegranates and cornelian cherries — all of which were preserved within the structure as a result of their coating of ash
suggests that the volcano exploded in the midst of the villagers' fall harvests
"By finding fruits and agricultural materials
we were able to identify the season of the eruption
which is usually impossible," Matarazzo says in a press release
the blast occurred in several successive stages
Vesuvius sent out a burst of rubble in the opposite direction of the village
This enabled villagers to flee and explains why the site shows signs of escaping villagers (including the footprints of frantic adults and children) but no buried bodies
a shift in the wind sent a cloud of material back towards the village
a thick layer of volcanic debris created casts of the city and its immediate surroundings
coating the area in a durable material known to scientists as cinerite
the cinerite casts of the site have remained resistant to wear and tear
As well as protecting the huts and the storage warehouse
the cinerite casts also preserved a diversity of plant life surrounding the site
strengthening the team’s conclusions about the seasonality of the blast
the imprints of leaves and fruits found around the village provide further evidence that the eruption occurred in the fall
there's much more to study within the remains of Afragola
Future studies will investigate the variety of animal bones also found on site
providing new insights into the traditions of animal management in ancient Southern Italy
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CT —The East Haven Rotary Club recently honored their last Student of the Month recipients for the 2023-2024 academic year
The April Student of the Month is from the Art Department
Brandom Santos is a member of the AMA Raptors Wrestling Club
Evan Martinez is the May Student of the Month from the Music/Drama Department
Evan participates in both the Drama and the Media Clubs
His future plans are to become an electrician
with the hope to pursue his dream of becoming an actor
The final Student of the Month for this academic year is Alexa Heaphy
Alexa has been a three-year starter on the EHHS Softball team
being named the captain in her Junior year
Alexa also participates in a number of clubs: SCC Spring Sports Captains Council; National Honor Society and the President of the Class of 2025 during her freshman and sophomore years
Alexa plans to attend a college on the East coast and major in business or health science
the Rotary recognizes a student from East Haven High School's junior class
The club makes these presentations at Superintendent Erica Forti’s monthly
District Wide Students of the Month Assembly
which takes place the last Friday of the month in the Media Center at the high school
The East Haven Rotary Club presents each honoree with a certificate
a Rotary commemorative coin and a check for $100
Winners then become eligible for the $1,000 Jack Leary Memorial Scholarship to be awarded at the end of their senior year
now in its 86th year was organized on March 3
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Located about 7 miles north of Naples, the Napoli Afragola railway station designed by Zaha Hadid Architects has been operating for a year now
the firm released some new photos of the snake-like building taken by Hufton + Crow
As part of Italy's expanding high-speed rail network in preparation of growing demands for train travel
the new station is the first part of a multi-phase project expected to be complete in 2022
Inaugurated last year with 18 high-speed trains in each direction
services will increase to 28 trains as new infrastructure is built
the train station received the 2018 Surface Travel Award for Transportation
Located within Italy's new north/south high-speed rail corridor
Napoli Afragola will connect some 15 million of Southern Italy's residents with the national railway network
It will also enable goods and passengers from Europe and northern Italy to have easier access to Italy's southern ports
about 32,700 passengers are expected to use the Napoli Afragola station every day
“The design enlarges the elevated walkway above the eight platforms to such a degree that it is transformed into the station’s main passenger concourse; creating an inhabited public bridge housing all the services and facilities for departing
with direct access to all platforms below,” ZHA describes
“The circulation routes of passengers using the station have determined the geometries of its spaces
Large entrances at both ends of the station welcome and guide visitors to the elevated central concourse where rail passengers descend to the platforms.”
“Designed as an extruded trapezoid along its 450m curved path
the station’s elevated concourse is orientated at an angle from the railway tracks to improve its environmental performance
natural light and ventilation as well as ground source cooling/heating systems will enable the station to minimize energy consumption.,” ZHA continues
Find more project photos in the gallery below
All photos courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
I like how the building crosses the tracks and is one coherent whole
In the Netherlands main station buildinsg and the part covering the tracks are often disconnected and designed by separate offices
That looks pretty darned nice. I like that it deploys all the classic train station components (concourses
etc) in an unusual form that's much more responsive to its non-urban
almost greenfield site. And it still manages an appropriately grand scale. Well done
Probably one of the better ZHA projects I've seen in a while but could they not have done something better with those exterior galvanized handrails? Seems like a missed opp
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it has been announced that construction at zaha hadid‘s afragola station in napoli is set to resume later this year
was put on hold in february 2012 after budget concerns
after a recent meeting of the RFI (rete ferroviaria italiana)
the company who own italy’s railway network
it has been decided that the scheme may come to fruition after all
the new station complex will be situated three kilometers north of the city center and is envisaged as both a contemporary landmark and at catalyst for the future redevelopment of the area
the architectural language of the scheme represents an appropriate sense of movement though its dynamic use of concrete and glass
a modern transport interchange which will connect the city through long awaited TAV high-speed rail links
the primary concept for the design features an extended bridge which reaches across all railway lines forming a pedestrian passage which connects either side of the station
high speed train station napoli-afragola video © zaha hadid architects
italyproject dates: 2003 – ongoingclient: RFI s.p.a.status: under constructionarea: 20,000 sqm (215,278 sqf)
leading the creative studio to place these two in a series of imagery
images courtesy of INK | photos by Benedict Redgrove
Creative studio INK works with British photographer Benedict Redgrove to illustrate the meeting between Polestar 3 and the architectural works of Zaha Hadid
Benedict Redgrove’s clean and pure visual ethos coupled with the absence of distractions piece well with the imagery INK had in mind and the minimalistic Scandinavian design of Polestar 3
The collective aim is to uplift the design of the electric SUV
and through the futuristic and otherworldly digital imagery
where a diaphanous horizon mirrors the crowd-less station and terminal
INK employs a blend of location photography and real-time rendering to capture the substance of Zaha Hadid’s space-age architecture
They later combine the outcome with the digital CGI car at INK’s London studio alongside the use of abstraction and technology to create the final look
During the CGI and post-production process
INK peruses Zaha Hadid’s architecture to stay true to its design
The team admits it has manipulated the Napoli Afragola railway station and the Salerno Maritime Terminal around the car to create the otherworldly feel
Final post-production elements were later added
including blending surreal shadows and reflections with sharp curves.
all parties celebrate the iterative nature of image making
through a reductive process of removing the unnecessary in the quest to find the purest
simplest representation of each and every element
It’s a kind of optimization,’ James Ball shares with designboom
Napoli Afragola railway station and Salerno Maritime Terminal in Italy are the two visual influences
The creation of a futuristic Zaha Hadid architecture to launch Polestar 3 comes with a few hiccups
‘Our productions are technologically challenging and our approaches are phased
Collaboratively we will select our locations
and once chosen we use an array of pipeline technologies to allow seamless integration on set
With Polestar we utilized our purpose-built AR Automotive Previz Tool
which enables real-time visualization of the vehicle and the immediate vicinity from any device
We can place any vehicle in any space to preview how it will look in that actual environment
with lighting and shadows accurate to that of the day,’ James Ball explains to designboom
INK locks in a number of heights and angles prior to the shoot and to facilitate realism further
‘We took our digital vehicle asset to set in a real-time 3D space using our Lizard 360 HDRI camera to capture the environment for image-based lighting
we start the journey in the reductive process of simplification
with artful manipulation of the environment to simplify the reflections and purify the form,’ James Ball concludes in a conversation with designboom
Now that Polestar 3 has been placed in a gossamer-bathed environment
Polestar 3 is the third model in the carmaker’s portfolio
Polestar 3 is dubbed the first SUV designed from the ground up to be pure electric
In keeping with Polestar’s simplistic yet modern design
the Polestar 3 is defined by sculpted surfaces and optimized aerodynamics
With a range of up to 379 mi and power of up to 510 bhp
the brand-new Polestar 3 will be available in early 2024.
INK works with Benedict Redgrove to illustrate the meeting between Polestar 3 and the works of Zaha Hadid
INK employs location photography and real-time rendering to capture Zaha Hadid’s space-age architecture
INK’s James Ball says that the emphasis on future-facing form in Zaha Hadid’s design is mirrored by Polestar 3
we start the journey in the reductive process of simplification and cleanup,’ James Ball tells designboom
including blending surreal shadows and reflections with sharp curves
INK peruses Zaha Hadid’s architecture to stay true to the design
Polestar 3 is set to be available in early 2024
car brand: Polestar
creative studio: INK
photographer: Benedict Redgrove
architecture: Zaha Hadid Architects
By Metro Report International2023-04-24T05:35:00+01:00
The planned Line 10 would link Napoli Afragola high speed station with Piazza Cavour in the city centre
ITALY: Prequalification bids have been invited by May 15 for a €1·6bn turnkey contract which would also include the supply of driverless trainsets
The 12·9 km line with 13 stations is intended to link Napoli Afragola station on the Roma – Napoli high speed line with Piazza Cavour in the city centre
where interchange would be provided to metro lines 1 and 2
Line 10 would also serve the main line station at Casoria-Afragola
A second interchange to Line 1 would be provided at Di Vittorio
Line 1 is currently being extended to form a circular route
connecting the existing termini at Piscinola Scampia and Piazza Garibaldi
The national government allocated €795m last May towards the construction of Line 10
This was followed on December 1 by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Campania region and the Napoli municipality of Napoli
at which time it was agreed that Line 10 should be run by the regionally-owned operator
EAV has called tenders for the design and construction of a 5 km connection between Afragola high speed station and Volla station on the Circumvesuviana line
as well as a link between the Napoli – San Giorgio and Napoli – Sorrento lines
These projects have a budget of €150m to be financed from the EU’s Development & Cohesion Fund
ITALY: A 1·9 km one-station extension of Napoli metro Line 1 from Garibaldi to Centro Direzionale opened on April 1
as work progresses to take the line to the airport
Mayor Gaetano Manfredi said the Centro Direzionale station designed by EMBT architects ..
ITALY: The national government has allocated a total of €4·7bn from the 2022 national budget to fund metro construction in Milano
€180m has been allocated for the western extension of metro Line 1 from ..
ITALY: Napoli regional transport operator EAV has signed a framework agreement with CAF covering the supply of up to 10 six-car trainsets for the 10 km Arcobaleno suburban metro line between Piscinola and Aversa Centro
The deal signed on June 22 includes a firm order for an ..
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The project was conceptualized as an enlarged public walkway to serve passengers, passersby, and shoppers on either side of the railyard.
“Any great country needs great projects that are a leap forward,” said Prime Minister Gentiloni in praise of the project. The station serves as a key rail interchange that will relieve congestion at the existing Napoli Centrale station in the city center. It further connects the north and the south of the country with high-speed lines and encourages travel within the southern regions on local lines. Each day, 32,700 people are expected to use it.
Large entrances and exits on either side of the tracks guide visitors into the public walkway above, with shops, restaurants, and station platforms.
A curving pathway within the station for future retail.
The completed phase one Afrangola station in Naples.
The first phase of a new Zaha Hadid-designed high-speed train station near Naples has been completed and begun service
Part of a larger plan to improve rail connectivity throughout southern Italy
the Napoli Afragola train station features an interesting design and includes significant sustainable technology
the Napoli Afragola train station was recently inaugurated by Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and became operational on June 11
It currently serves 18 high-speed trains and up to 10,000 passengers per day
this will eventually increase to 28 trains
and an estimated 32,700 passengers each day
"The concrete used within the station is a specific composition that provides optimum performance
with curved structural concrete elements built using technologies initially developed during the construction of the MAXXI Museum in Rome: wooden formwork replaced by prefabricated steel units
and double-curves realized with formwork created from CNC milled polystyrene models," explains the firm in a press release
In addition to serving passengers and trains
the station's concourse itself acts as a public bridge over the railway tracks for locals to use
The concourse also provides passengers easy access to platforms
The Napoli Afragola station features a significant amount of sustainable design
The main concourse has been oriented to ensure natural lighting and ventilation is maximized
while solar panels are integrated into the roof
Ground source heating and cooling systems keep the interior at a comfortable temperature efficiently
Source: Zaha Hadid Architects
Naples-Afragola is a proposed high-speed railway station in the city of Naples
Italy's state-owned railway network operator Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) is responsible for the implementation of the project
Italy’s state-owned railway network operator Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) is responsible for the implementation of the project
The plans to build the station were first revealed in 2003
but the project was kept on hold due to budgetary constraints
The construction contract for the project was awarded to Italian multinational construction company Astaldi Group in February 2015
With the aim of improving public transportation in the metropolitan area, the station will be used by all high-speed trains on the Rome-Naples high-speed line and will be integrated with major roads and regional railway lines
serving as an interchange between high-speed and local services
Naples-Afragola will become the first and main project of the urban development plan
designed to develop and upgrade the entire area with projects such as high-tech laboratories
London-based Zaha Hadid Architects designed the Naples-Afragola station to combine nature and technology
manufactured by TREno Veloce Italiano (TREVI)
Also known as ‘bridge above the tracks’
the design features an innovative bridge concept
The station will be comparable to a 400m aerial bridge
which will cross over platforms without intruding upon the landscape or road network
The bridge will be formed by enlarging the overhead concourse
which will also serve as the main passenger concourse
The main building will be covered with large glass panels in winding shapes
making the structure similar to a moving train
The new high-speed station will be located 3km north of the city centre
It will become a gateway to the city while serving as a catalyst for future development
The four-level station building will occupy an area of 20,000m²
with the possibility of a 10,000m² extension
It will measure 2.7m (9ft) high and incline at both ends
allowing passenger flow between several areas of the station
Two strips of extended park-land will run alongside the tracks throughout the station site
connecting the station to the surrounding landscape and business park
Customer amenities and other services will be housed in bright and wide corridors
which will contain retail outlets and other businesses
The station will feature 1,400 car parking spaces
bars and cafés located above the waiting area
The contract was awarded to Zaha Hadid Architects in 2003
The company released the initial designs for the project in the subsequent years
Astaldi Group received a €61m ($68.5m) order for the construction of the station in February 2015. The agreement includes completion of the building, station works and other railway system works
The construction commenced in the second half of 2015 and is scheduled to conclude in approximately 24 months
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By Railway Gazette International2017-06-06T14:38:20
ITALY: The landmark high speed station at Napoli Afragola
was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on June 6
ahead of the start of regular services on June 11
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with significant time savings for those heading further south.” However
it is estimated that the number of passengers will increase when the Naples-Bari high-speed rail link opens
The inauguration will be held today in the presence of Transportation Minister Graziano Delrio
Campania Regional President Vincenzo De Luca
it is scheduled to open to passenger traffic onJune 11
Image: rendering of the Naples Afragola station
Napoli Afragola Station was initially proposed in 2003
After a series of delays, the first phase of the massive Napoli Afragola Station initially proposed in 2003 and designed by Zaha Hadid has been inaugurated by Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni
Billed as “the new gateway to south of Italy,” the rail station
serves as a hub to four high speed inter-city lines
it connects 15 million residents of Campania
and Sicily with the national rail network in the northern part of the country
characterized by Hadid’s signature swoops and lines
was designed as an “urbanized public bridge” that connects neighborhoods on either side of the railway
This passageway spans eight railway tracks and
in addition to establishing the station’s main concourse
and connection services and facilities and provides direct access to all platforms below
A central atrium lined with cafes and shops adds a public meeting spot for passengers
it incorporates a reinforced concrete base
an elevated concourse of Corian-clad steel ribs
Public train service will begin next month
‘any great country needs great projects that are a leap forward,’ explains gentiloni
‘the new station at afragola is the foundation of the infrastructure program that promotes economic development in the south.’
the high speed rail service will connect bari and reggio calabria with the north of italy image courtesy of zaha hadid architects (main image by jacopo spilimbergo)
the trademark concrete used in zaha hadid architect’s design of the station is a specific composition that provides optimum performance
the building’s curved structural concrete elements were built using technologies initially developed during the construction of the MAXXI museum in rome: wooden formwork replaced by prefabricated steel units
and double-curves realized with formwork created from CNC-milled polystyrene models
the station is set to be fully operational by june 11th
conceived as an ‘urbanized public bridge’
the station seeks to connect the communities found on either side of the railway
the configuration minimizes distances for those embarking and alighting at the station
creating a series of fluid circulation routes
the public walkway becomes the station’s main passenger concourse
housing a wide range of services and facilities with direct access to platforms below
the MAXXI museum in rome uses similar building techniques image by jacopo spilimbergo
the glass clad roofs cast an organic shadow within the structure image by jacopo spilimbergo
the paths of passengers have determined the geometry of the internal spaces image by jacopo spilimbergo
a view of the railway station’s exterior image by jacopo spilimbergo
By Railway Gazette International2015-02-18T15:23:00
construction group Astaldi announced that it had been awarded a €61m civil works contract by Italferr for ‘completion’ of Napoli Afragola station on the Napoli – Roma high speed line
The great architectural project of Zaha Hadid becomes reality
the new Napoli Afragola station will receive 18 pairs of high speed trains every day that will link the new Naples stop with the main cities of the Turin – Salerno backbone
as well as going to Venice and Reggio Calabria
Napoli Afragola will link into connections from Napoli Centrale
because 32 trains out of 36 will stop in both stations
serving complementary – but different – user bases and areas
Only 55 minutes is needed to get to Roma Termini station
while the journey time between Napoli Centrale station and the Italian capital is unchanged (1h 10’)
The station thus becomes a strategic hub for the regional and national transport system. It is a splendid piece of work to be admired for its architectural beauty
and has capitalised on a decisive opportunity to redesign and repurpose the surrounding area
Zaha Hadid’s project for the new Napoli Afragola station meets the engineering and architectural needs of FS Italiane
It embraces the concept of a station as being no longer a simple place where travellers move through
The central body of the station is 400 metres long and crosses the tracks like a large bridge
The investment in the tender process for this first phase is 60 million euros
The project also includes an external area of around 150,000 square metres
around 1,400 parking spaces (when complete)
and 53 places for taxis and kiss&ride drop-offs that also have a reserved lane. Fifteen places are allocated for local and longer-distance buses
This is a work of infrastructure which from 2022 will become a true intermodal hub
thanks to the links between long-distance and regional rail lines which are to be made shortly: the Naples-Cancello-Frasso Telesino line and the extension of the Circumvesuviana railway
it is a transport hub that will serve an urban market of around three million people
A thermal solar system has been included in the design to produce sanitary water and heating in the winter
There are also polyvalent air conditioners which in spring and autumn and at all times when external temperatures are not very high
will perform better than those which use traditional cooling systems
as well as bringing unquestionable advantages in terms of energy use and the saving of numerous tonnes of CO² emissions
has also meant the elimination of the production of fluids from methane-burning boilers
and obviously also Napoli Afragola station and the technical solutions which set it apart
We design and build infrastructure to move people and goods sustainably
We’re shortening the distance for the development and growth of our country
The carabinieri intervened near "Tower A" where shots had been reported: investigations are underway with the acquisition of videos from the surveillance systems in the area
The carabinieri of the Casoria company intervened near the "Tower A"
The soldiers of the relief section of the investigative unit of Castello di Cisterna carried out the inspection and found 20 9-gauge shell casings on the ground
Investigations are underway with the acquisition of videos taken by the surveillance systems of the area
Zaha Hadid Architects has unviled the first phase of the long-awaited Napoli Afragola Station - a project first unveiled more than 14 years ago
The design of the 30,000m² station seven miles north of Naples
which is raised above eight railway tracks
features a large central atrium and a 450-metre elevated concourse made up of 200 differently shaped steel ribs
is defined by the ’circulation routes of passengers’
It added that the ’paths of passengers have also determined the geometry of the spaces within’ the building
The station is constructed on a reinforced concrete base
Cooling and heating systems at ground level also help the station to minimise energy consumption
32,700 passengers are expected to use the station each day
The station is intended to connect the regions of southern Italy to the national rail network in the north
(Rete Ferroviaria Italiana)Architect Zaha Hadid Architects (Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher)Structural engineering and geotechnics consultants Hanif Kara
Paul ScottLandscape design GROSS MAX – Eelco HooftmanTransport Engineering JMP - Max MatteisContractor ATI ASTALDI S.p.A (Astaldi S.p
A; NBI S.p.A)Start date First proposed in 2003Completion date June 2017Building Services
Acoustics and Architectural Lighting Max Fordham
TagsNaples Zaha Hadid Architects
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Putting a clear glass roof on a station at a latitude where the average daytime temperature is around 30C for at least two months of the year is not great architecture
The proposed high-speed Napoli-Afragola railway station has been designed with an innovative bridge concept
The bridge concept is the result of a process whereby the overhead concourse is enlarged to such a degree that it becomes the main passenger concourse
The construction of the new Napoli-Afragola railway station is still underway
The project was expected to be completed by 2008
but was delayed due to disputes over price making and the operator had to call for tenders again
The plans for the new Napoli-Afragola railway station are well underway
The key challenge of the project is to create a well-organised transport interchange that will simultaneously serve as a landmark and a gateway to the city of Naples
This is why the new station was conceived as a bridge above the tracks
It will also function as the nucleus of a new business park linking the various surrounding towns
A bridge design will ensure public access from both sides of the tracks
There is no reason to favour one side over the other
so the station will most likely have two entrances – one for each side of the tracks
the central functions and the main body of the station will have to be placed in the centre
making it equally accessible to both sides
This is perhaps the most compelling reason why the station should be designed as a bridge structure
The design and architecture for the project was provided by Zaha Hadid Architects
The 350m long station will cover an area of 20,000m2 with provision for an additional 10,000m2 and has four levels with a height of 25m
The bridge concept developed out of the need to enlarge the overhead concourse (required to access the various platforms) to the point where it will be able to function as the main passenger concourse
This crucial move offers other advantages in terms of the clarity of the layout
Elevating the main public areas above the tracks also meets the need for a bright
with spectacular views of Mount Vesuvius and the surrounding landscape
The bridge will be raised up to 9m without interrupting the surrounding urban landscape
The bridge design will also benefit passengers who need to transfer from a regional train to a fast train and vice-versa
Switching between platforms via the bridge also allows for a quick diversion into the refreshment and shopping areas above
The proposed design is geared towards facilitating free movement of traffic
seamlessly integrating the bundle of railway lines and access roads that pass through the new transport interchange
The bridge concept also allows the parkland to cut through the site alongside the tracks
This opens up the site to the surrounding landscape and provides valuable links to the retail park
These strips of extended parkland can also be used for bicycle access
This dynamic layout continues inside the building
with the movement of the travellers determining the geometry of the space
Creating easy access and facilitating movement around the site is the driving force behind the station’s design
The distribution of the key functional categories will be determined by the two factors that will shape the layout of the station: the need for access from the two extreme ends of the site and the need for a single passenger centre
Whether approaching from the east side or the west side
the bridge structure will be clearly in view
offering an obvious point of access on both sides
A spacious articulated entrance will act as a funnel for channelling traffic flows through the commercial areas towards the central knot of the passenger centre
The route will then lead into a large sectional opening
where drivers will be able to stop at one of the cafes for refreshments if they wish
the route will continue down into the passenger and transfer centre
where the ticketing and waiting areas will be located
The central waiting area will function as a large atrium where passengers can wait until their platform is announced
The structure is made up of glass and concrete
It is curvaceous and has a slope at the ends
The gallery will have a 500m² panel of glass which would diffuse direct sunlight and restore solar energy
The direct sunlight through low windows will keep the passengers warm in winter while in summer the south-facing windows will be protected from direct sun rays
transfer passengers with time to kill will be able to move from the ticketing / waiting area up to the commercial level
A number of restaurants will be clearly visible above the waiting area
and there will also be several bars and cafes lining the edge of the atrium
Customers will be able to look down on the comings and goings of passengers
as well as the various train arrivals and departures
Large windows will allow a panoramic view of the platforms and the landscape beyond
There will be the same layout one level further up
The scheme clearly separates public areas and service areas
The public areas are all situated around the passenger route described above
while the service areas are located below the passenger route
The service areas only share space with the public areas at the transfer level
ensuring that there is minimal overlap between public routes and service routes
The station will accommodate a 1,400-car parking space and a bus station
shopping areas and sports facilities have also found place in the design
The high-speed trains travelling on the Rome-Naples line will use the station which will also serve as a point of connection with local trains and the Circumvesuviana trains
about 200 trains are expected to use the station everyday
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Gallery: ZHA-designed Napoli Afragola train station in Italy
Hufton+Crow releases new imagery of the Napoli Afragola high-speed railway station in Italy
Developed to become a vital interchange between local
Napoli Afragola is within Italy’s new north/south high-speed rail corridor that will connect the 15 million residents of Campania
Calabria and Sicily in southern Italy with the national high-speed rail network
as well as enable goods and passengers from Europe and northern Italy to easily access the southern ports of Gioia Tauro
Napoli Afragola station is also planned to serve its local communities of Acerra
and Casoria that vary in population from 10,000 to 50,000 residents
32,700 passengers are expected to use the Napoli Afragola station every day (approximately 12 million passengers each year) with up to 4,800 local commuters using the station each morning and evening rush-hour
services will increase to 28 trains in each direction as new infrastructure and further phases of the station come on line enabling a further 200 regional and local train services to call at Napoli Afragola daily
creating the important interchange between the national
Napoli Afragola is defined by the circulation routes of its passengers to minimise distances for those embarking and alighting at the station as well as passengers with connecting services
The design enlarges the elevated walkway above the eight platforms to such a degree that it is transformed into the station’s main passenger concourse; creating an inhabited public bridge housing all the services and facilities for departing
The circulation routes of passengers using the station have determined the geometries of its spaces
Large entrances at both ends of the station welcome and guide visitors to the elevated central concourse where rail passengers descend to the platforms
Designed as an extruded trapezoid along its 450m curved path
natural light and ventilation as well as ground source cooling/heating systems will enable the station to minimise energy consumption
The freshly inaugurated high-speed train station in Afragola, on the outskirts of Naples, is billed as a gateway to the south of Italy, announces the late architect's practice, Zaha Hadid Architects.
The station will operate from June 11 and has been designed as a key interchange and rail hub, served by four high-speed rail lines linking northern and southern Italy, plus three interregional lines and one local commuter line.
This train station has been designed as an urbanized public bridge, connecting communities on either side of the train tracks. The public walkway, which also forms the station concourse, rises over eight railway lines.
Large entrances at either end of the bridge welcome and direct passengers and visitors towards public zones, lined with shops and other commodities. Arriving from either side of the station, passengers and passersby walking the concourse meet in a central atrium surrounded by cafés and restaurants.
The station, designed as an extrusion of a trapezoid along a 450m curved path, has been built with a reinforced concrete base. This supports an elevated concourse of 200 steel ribs and a glazed roof, featuring built-in solar panels.
The concrete used is a specific composition providing optimum performances, with curved structural concrete elements built using technologies initially developed during the construction of the MAXXI Museum in Rome, also designed by Zaha Hadid.
Zaha Hadid died of a heart attack in Miami in March 2016. She was a key figure of 20th-century architecture. Born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq, Hadid was the first woman to be crowned with the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the most prestigious in the profession. She is also the first woman to receive the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
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It has been a very tough decision to have to make”
of the imminent closure of Ottimax in Afragola (near Naples)
The store will close its doors for the last time on 28 February 2019; this is yet another closure for a site that
has also seen other operators come and go: first Castorama and then Leroy Merlin
blame can also be attached to the current market situation and the presence of other competitors
albeit one that initially (October 2015) seemed promising thanks
to the presence of partners – we may cite Megawatt – that were deeply integrated in the area and the fabric of local commerce
where the establishment of relationships as well as familiarity with and loyalty towards brands count for more than they do elsewhere in Italy
the decision of the Casoria-based partner to leave Ottimax was bound to hurt the Campania store
Sixty-seven people – not 100 as reported in other media – will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. And the Group has offered them the possibility to join the staff of the new Ottimax store that is opening in June in Catania
therefore it is still too soon to know how many of them
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
A figure that encompasses the period 2023-2030 and will enable the Group's brands to considerably increase the number of stores and reach 10 billion in sales
continuing the development throughout the country
The Dutch brand kicks off the new year by opening a new store in Lazio on January 5
The store is run by a staff of 20 new employees
The news published in Ferreteria y Actualidad about the sale of Bricorama stores in Spain (we had already talked about this) to the Bricofer group
A new brand for the third largest Italian group in the modern retail industry joining the pet store world
“Animali che Passione” is the result of market studies and analyses of some Selex partners
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They finally arrive good news on the realization of the metro line 10 in Naples because this important subway will see the light and will be a fundamental connection between the center of Naples and the Afragola high-speed station
the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development
The government funding that will arrive is substantial: it has already been sent 334 million for the Carlo III - Di Vittorio section
there are resources for 7 trains with 37 million euros
It is a crucial line because it will unfold like this:
The 37 million euros that will arrive for new ones 7 trains concern so-called driverless trains
without the driver inside the driver's cab
A historical revolution for Naples that will be able to approach the great European cities in this way
This project is possible from the collaboration between institutional subjects and public transport companies
the government sent substantial funding in a short time
There is no information yet on the date on which line 10 will be active
For the moment there has been the important announcement and the allocation of government funds
but we will continue to follow the story for more information and further updates
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Good news for those who have to reach the station of the Tav of Afragola by car because finally hundreds of new parking spaces have been set up outside the structure
for some time now denounced the lack of parking spaces at this fundamental and so strategic station and
above all after a press campaign carried out in an incisive manner by the morning
135 new parking spaces were created in a space of 600 meters of road outside the station
helping to significantly reduce traffic and chaos especially in the early morning hours
It will be the end of the wild stop in the whole area thanks to the new pitches
an area that was not originally intended for this purpose was converted
the methods are the same as those already used for other car parks
the accesses are automated between license plate reading and Telepass
The prices remain the same already active for the other areas:
but even more so will the opening of the large east car park with 1000 parking spaces which would finally put an end to all the problems and controversies relating to the difficulties of finding parking at the Tav of Afragola
a few days ago announced a sprint on the bureaucratic process for its construction and the times have been significantly accelerated
The aforementioned investigation by the Neapolitan newspaper has helped a lot
through a scandal placed on the front page on the lack of parking spaces
because at the discussion table open on the issue there was also talk of the upgrading of buses and the creation of a shuttle
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