l' Europe à grande vitesse - 1995/1996

High-speed trains are pulling new tracks across Europe. They pass by cities and airports, creating a new hierarchy in infrastructure and economy. In the midst of the political discussion about the HSL and the expansion of Schiphol, the study project 'l'Europe à grande vitesse' took place at the end of the last century under the auspices of the Fonds Beeldende Kunsten Vormgeving en Bouwkunst and the Nederlands Architectuurinstituut.

Goal: an incisive confrontation with the architecture and urbanism associated with the introduction of the TGV in northwestern Europe. The emphasis is on railway stations, whether or not linked to airports, the integration of infrastructure into the landscape and urban renewal processes in London, Paris, Lille and Lyon.

Book l' Europe à grande vitesse

Nineteen architects, urban planners and researchers were selected for the study project L'Europe à grande vitesse. The book bundles the travel reports and offers an overview of the developments for the station areas and airports for London, Lille, Paris and Lyon.

Participants: Alex van de Beld, Florian Boer, Jeroen Bosch, Mark Graafland, Marco Henssen, Richard Mentink, Paul Mijksenaar, Ellen Monchen, Wim Nijenhuis, Katrien Prak, Vincent van Rossum, Jeroen van Schooten, Casper Smeets, Maike van Stiphout, Martin van den Toorn, Paul Toornend, Hans Venhuizen, Wilfried van Winden, Art Zaaijer.

A year later, the study trip was repeated in an abbreviated version for members of the Lower House: M.M. Versnel-Schmitz, A. Duivesteijn, E.P. van Heemst, A.H. Esselink, P.H. Hofstra, P.J.L. Verbugt and D.J. Stellingwerf.

The Netherlands will be connected to the high-speed network in 2009.