Constructed using low-emission building materials, the station’s eco credentials include rainwater retention facilities, heat pumps, photo-voltaic panels, energy efficient lighting, smog absorbing paving stones and a vertical garden composed of 25,000 plants.

To the human eye, however, it is the station’s aesthetics that are the most striking. Dominated by glass and pristine white concrete, the object is propped up by supporting columns designed to gently reference folkish motifs—reminiscent of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, these flowering pillars have become the project’s defining feature.

Designed by the Warsaw-based studio Tremend, the project beat off competition from world-renowned practices such as the UK’s Zaha Hadid Architects and Kohn Pederson Fox in the U.S.

Writing on Facebook, Tremend wrote: “This is an expression of appreciation for our work, and it gives us a sense of fulfillment that is hard to describe in words.”

Winning the ‘transport’ category, the facility was praised for its environmentally aware solutions, simplicity of form and unique visual features.

“Despite the concentration of transport services here, it stands out perfectly in its surroundings,” concluded the international panel of jurors.

Costing nearly €80 million—around two-thirds of which was gleaned from EU grants—the station was opened in January of this year following three years of work.

Described by the city’s mayor, Krzysztof Żuk, as “a flagship urban investment,” the investment has already won a slew of awards and has often found itself called “Poland’s most beautiful bus station.”

However, this is not the first time the bus station has been recognized by the World Architecture Festival with the project making the shortlist in 2019 in the ‘future projects—infrastructure’ category.