Custom House Station

Crossrail has a number of design principles that apply to all the new Elizabeth line stations. These include a required consistency and sense of identity that derives from common materials and components; a functional clarity: fully accessible, safe and comfortable spaces that people can move through easily and efficiently, that privilege instinctive wayfinding and natural light; and a design that caters for future growth in passenger numbers: the platforms have been built to accommodate the new 200-metre long train as well as longer rolling stock in the future.

Each new station is also encouraged to have its own, distinct character that reflects the environment and heritage of the local area.

With only a single interchange with the DLR station via bridges from the upper concourse level, Custom House station has a simpler layout than many of the central London stations. As a surface level station, it also differs, giving us the unique opportunity to think of the free-standing form of the station as an ambassador of the new rail transport system in the capital, and a strong architectural presence in the immediate urban context of Newham.

A legible structural form using precast columns and beams laid out in regular bays straddles the eastbound track bed and and provides the base for an elevated concourse. In plan this is divided into two unequal proportions, the larger providing a wide, generous, open sided ambulatory to aid observation, orientation, and route selection for passengers; the smaller providing the connections via fixed stairs, escalators and lift to the platform below. This asymmetry is further emphasised by providing a large canted translucent ETFE pillow roof over the larger space, while the smaller space shelters under a solid flat roof and linear spine that also houses all the station's cables and operational services.

An 18 degree angle sweeps through the station design aligning the structure with the surrounding street layout and twisting the columns into parallelograms. This angle is consistently combed through the floor finishes and steel superstructure supporting the roof.

At platform level, we have introduced folded planes to the precast concrete soffit panels supporting the concourse. These fold in alternate directions to provide a simple vaulting pattern that is enhanced and lifted by edge lighting.

In addition to the station accommodation and passenger interfaces, Custom House also contains additional spaces for system wide electrical and signalling equipment. While these are simple utility rooms at platform level, their enclosures contribute to the overall architectural composition, with a pattern of plain or perforated metal panels, or back sprayed glass panels, adding colour and interest.