S-Bahn station - city train - "Wilhelm Leuscher Square" appeared in the city center. This place is also known as Peaceful Revolution Square - in memory of the events of 1989, when thousands of residents gathered there, demanding the reunification of Germany. And in 1965, a large demonstration of young people, inspired by the Rolling Stones concert, was held here against the prohibition of beat music. Now it is quite a calm square with greenery and a beautiful New Town Hall: there is such an ensemble in almost every European city.
Dudler's project won the competition back in 1997, but it was not until December 2013 that the first train of the new 5-kilometer line of four stations, laid in a tunnel under the center of Leipzig, stopped at his station. It can be assumed that the project has already lost all relevance if its author was not Max Dudler with his refusal to follow fashion.
The architect, according to his favorite method, used a single module for the entire building. Descending to a depth of 20 meters, passengers find themselves in a seemingly endless station tunnel hall without a single support: all the supporting elements are hidden. And this is despite the fact that the walls and roof are translucent, as they consist of identical square glass blocks. Each of the blocks is fixed on a metal frame, backlit and inserted into a concrete "frame".
The apron is 140 m long and 20 m wide. In order not to distract attention from the perspective reduction of the luminous modules receding into the distance, the floor is covered with a light, neutral terrazzo.
To the north and south there are two entrances with simple staircases. The station's ground “gates” are also clearly and strictly decorated, using the same glass panels and unpainted concrete surfaces.
Station "Wilhelm Leuscher Square" is an architectural object thought out to the smallest detail. Max Dudler himself says that in his architecture he primarily strives for integrity, developing every detail. Here the master thought out not only the architectural part, but also the appearance of ticket vending machines, a board with a train timetable, benches for waiting passengers.
Striving for harmony "to detail" is associated with the reverent attitude of Dudler to the ancient classics, to ideal modules and clear rhythms. The architect used the motive of the repetition of a key element not only in the station in the center of Leipzig, but also in the library buildings in Münster and Berlin, in the concert hall in Reutlingen, high-rise buildings in Frankfurt am Main … At first glance, the projects of this Swiss architect may seem monotonous, but the thoughtfulness of their sizes and scales, the absolute unity of the design from the facades to the interior details really create a kindred antique harmony of the image, which the viewer perceives intuitively.
