Stationshal Hoofdstation
The central hall of Groningen Central Station exudes an atmosphere reminiscent of over a century ago: the interlaced brickwork of red, yellow and black bricks, a tall wrought-iron lantern and the inscriptions above the passageways.
Take a closer look
Location
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we tend to rush from one place to another and forget to see the beauty in things we ‘already know’. Take a look up. The colourful floral motifs and architectural elements on the ceiling are made of papier-mâché. This technique was once quite common due to its low cost and light weight. However, its use on such a large scale is unusual. Furthermore, the hall is what is known as a ‘salle des pas perdus’, literally a ‘hall where footsteps are lost’. The Groningen artist F.H. Bach (then a lecturer at the Minerva art academy) is referring not only to the acoustics, but also to the function of the hall. A waiting area where people wander about to pass the time, moving their feet more or less aimlessly.