Osnabrück - public & mobility

Osnabrück Mobility Stations

Background

Osnabrück is gradually pushing ahead with the transport transition and is planning to build new mobility stations. As part of a design competition, a jury decided on the design: After winning the competition in 2017, we were awarded the contract for further development.

Competition entry

The design was applied as examples to various locations, some of which were already known (e.g. Haste station, terminus of the M5 metrobus line). In addition to the modular construction system, the materials and lighting concept played an important role.

Design

From the stele, partition walls and shelters to bicycle parking facilities – the modules are designed as striking, cubic, reduced structures. They combine functionality with clear design and set visible accents in the urban space. Different colors are used to identify the various services, such as charging stations, bike rental, or parking facilities, facilitating orientation and recognition.

Color concept

A central design element is the color concept. Six defined colors are each assigned to one of the six product ranges. The bold colors ensure high visibility, draw attention to the station and the respective mobility services, and at the same time create a connecting element – even in heterogeneous urban environments. In the dark, the colored surfaces are illuminated and thus remain clearly visible.

Modules and module catalog

The module catalog forms the design and functional basis for the Osnabrück mobility stations. It contains a variety of harmonized modules that can be individually combined depending on the location. These include steles, which serve as central information carriers and provide users with a quick overview of the available services, as well as partition walls, which create a clear room structure and at the same time offer privacy and wind protection.

The catalog also includes modern bus shelters and small buildings with multifunctional services such as lockers, kiosks, and technical rooms. The modular range is complemented by bicycle parking facilities in various sizes, which provide secure and easily accessible parking spaces for bicycles and e-bikes.

Implementation

Over the past five years, the city of Osnabrück has planned, implemented, and put into operation its first mobility stations. This led to the creation of stations in Haste and Düstrup along the electrified Metrobus axis (M1), as well as a mobility station in Sutthausen, which enables passengers to transfer to buses and rail-based local transport. A small bicycle parking facility is located at Kamp in the city center.

The mobility station, built in 2021 in the Landwehrviertel, complements the urban development of the new district with up to 800 residential units, local amenities, and a nursery. The station offers a passenger shelter, a secure bicycle parking facility, car sharing, and an information stele. A parcel station could also be added in the future.