Preston bus station, in the north of England, is thought to be the second largest in Europe. It was designed in the late 1960 by Building Design Partnership in heroic Brutalist style. In recent years, the authorities in Preston have proposed to demolish the building to make way for a new development. A public campaign to save the building was launched and a number of attempts to have the building heritage listed have failed. Campaigners claim the building is Preston's most loved, whilst the council argues both the bus facilities and the the carpark are under used and have poor pedestrian links to the main shopping district of the town. The building remains at risk of demolition.
The station can accommodate 80 double-decker buses on either side. The waiting areas are on the ground floor and include modest retail facilities, but the upper levels, characterised by the curved rib features to the façade, accommodate up to 1,100 cars.
The structure is made from insitu concrete, with prefabricated concrete elements forming the balustrading.
Further information about the station:
wickipedia.
Further discussion:
The Modernist.
For further historic photographs:
The.square
