BUS STOP! Corporate design
TYPE Mobility, Infrastructure, Public-space, Product
STATUS Commission, Built
LOCATION Sexten, Italy
YEAR 2024
CLIENT Municipality Sexten
DESIGN TEAM Eva Castro, Tina Cerpniak, Niccolò Dal Farra, Ulla Hell, Holger Kehne, Peter Pichler, Chuan Wang
PHOTO CREDIT Michael Pezzei
Sexten is a popular tourist destination in the Dolomites and, as a "tourism hotspot," suffers from heavy traffic. Initiatives at various levels aim to make the use of public transportation more attractive. This also includes the design, or so-called corporate design, of the local bus stops. At the initiative of the local tourism association, modular bus stops were to be conceived—starting from individual, combinable elements. The individual elements include a bus stop sign, a shelter with a display case and seating of various sizes, a standing rest, and an uncovered bench. Depending on usage intensity and available space, different combinations of bus stops can be created. Thanks to the modular design, the structure can be adapted to the specific conditions of each location, while maintaining a consistent aesthetic throughout the town.
The individual elements are made from durable materials: galvanized steel parts are combined with concrete elements of various surface finishes, using dolomite rock aggregate and local larch and pine wood. The limited use of color is borrowed from Sexten’s logo. The concrete parts are prefabricated, cast in the factory for quick assembly on-site, and the molds are reusable for future bus stops. The larch wood comes from a windfall in the local forest and is used for the vertical wooden surfaces. The seating is made of pine wood, which does not splinter. Concrete provides durability in the harsh alpine climate, while the wood adds warmth—both materials harmonize with the natural surroundings, characterized by extensive forest areas and pale mountain walls.
The shelter is designed to convey essential information in a small display case, provide enough sheltered seating, ensure clear visibility between bus drivers and those waiting, and offer a view of the surrounding landscape. A defining feature of the bus stop is the so-called "summit bench," designed by Plasma Studio in 2019 for the furnishings of the village of Sexten.
