At Liège-Guillemins, you do not have to look far for lines. Santiago Calatrava’s station is full of them. Arches, stairs and the repeating structure mean that even a fairly small part of the building can produce a very different photograph.
The new station opened in 2009. Calatrava designed a large steel-and-glass canopy over the platforms. Instead of a traditional front façade, the building has an open character, with a less definite boundary between inside and outside.
The design also links two different parts of the city on either side of the railway tracks. That explains why the station is more than a hall for departing passengers. Its passages and levels form part of a wider urban connection.
Breaking the repetition
The regular structure makes it tempting to take only a symmetrical overview. But there are smaller pictures to find too. Intersecting arches, a stairway against a bright background or a crop in which the scale becomes briefly unclear all reveal another side of the building.
Passengers belong in the station. They give the structure a sense of scale and make its purpose clear. At the same time, it is their route through the building. A camera or tripod must not get in the way.
The photography rules are more nuanced than a blanket ban. SNCB states that written permission is required for shoots using professional equipment, including private or study projects. There is an exception for ordinary non-commercial holiday photographs taken without professional equipment and with a travel ticket. Before arranging your own shoot, check SNCB’s current conditions.
Here, the focus stays on Guillemins: a building where light and repetition can easily keep you busy for longer than the wait for a train.
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