The old Karlsruhe railroad station (1841-43, architect Friedrich Eisenlohr) at Ettlinger Tor was relocated to the south of the rapidly growing city for both space and logistical reasons. The new building, designed by architect August Stürzenacker, opened in 1913.
Although the new station building was to dispense with unnecessary pomp, it was nevertheless to appear "as an entrance hall worthy of the Baden residence" (Otto Linde).
To this day, this interplay between function and representation is clearly recognizable from the main station building, even if some details have changed over its more than one hundred years of history. The use of the building has also changed:
Like the main building, the five-bay steel station concourse with so-called island platforms has changed little in terms of function, but the entrances to the tracks and the ticket counters have been adapted to meet modern requirements. The wing of the building, which is set back to the east, was originally the most magnificent part of the complex. On two levels, there were lounges and function rooms reserved for grand ducal travelers. In the wing set back to the west, on the other hand, the tracks of the Graben-Maxau lines were housed as dead-end platforms.
The ornamental building decoration is discreet and blends in with the simple façade design. From the station forecourt, the mansard-like broken gable of the main hall, which forms the center of the complex with two pylons in front and a canopy in between, is particularly eye-catching. On a walk along the entire façade, special Art Nouveau details can still be discovered on the recessed wings.
The sustainable square design creates an attractive entrance for the southern entrance to the main station. With its two large tree quarters, consisting of 25 climate trees, high-quality furniture and a fountain field, the forecourt offers a green, climate-friendly, multifunctional space with a high quality of stay.
The forecourt also fulfills the concept of the so-called sponge city in its mediating function between private transport and the railroad and city as a linking point. This urban planning concept
This urban planning concept aims to collect and store as much of the region's rainwater and surface water as possible on site instead of discharging it directly into the sewage system. This makes the forecourt a role model in times of climate adaptation.
Thanks to the lighting concept, the forecourt is also worth a visit at night.
