Two high-speed railway stations in Spain: from concept to details

Stations for high-speed rail travel are an important example of current trends in architecture and its relationship with structural engineering. This paper presents two Spanish examples where concept and detailed design can be highlighted as key elements of the structure. Tarragona-Reus Station is a through station situated in a rural area. Its structure creates a roof topography that constitutes a landmark for the area. Rectangular hollow sections (RHS) are used to create planar Warren trusses that make up the triangular base around which the building is formed. Valencia station is a terminus in an urban location, with a provisional design based on a modular structure concept. The main loadbearing modules, with plate box sections, go beyond their construction purpose to act as a structural coffered ceiling and the visual representation of the station.