LAYOUT - FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT

The UK terminal design encompassed overall co-ordination of the site layout, earthworks, infrastructure, landscape planning and designing the buildings and structures. The primary influence on the development of the UK terminal site is the design of the rail system in the context and constraints of the site geology, geography and environment. The fact that the English site is long and narrow-only a quarter of the size of the French site at Sangatte-influenced most of the functional layout and development. The clarity of routes was a key objective which emerged after a long process of refinement. A wide range of estimated traffic flows in volume and mix was forecast and related to transaction times. Sophisticated modelling was used to design the whole system to relate traffic flows to anticipated railway operating timetables. As a huge road-rail interchange the UK terminal design had to respect its setting, being in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The landscaping strategy was crucial. The design strategy for the terminal sought to marry the natural context with the dominant engineering structures, yet moderate the scale so that they did not overwhelm the smaller elements. A site geometry was developed, based on a series of relationships between the structures and the infrastructure. Related grids provide a hidden basis for co-ordinating roads, lighting, landscape and signs. The aim for the UK terminal was to create an integrated design-the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.