This, in conjunction with delays in construction, meant that the building, although very impressive, was always going to get less attention that it deserved because it was stylistically outmoded by the time of its completion. In 1953 when the building finally opened, so did the Unité d'Habitation (1947-1953) in Marseilles by Le Corbusier. The Unité, with its rough finished concrete and sculptured pilotis, attracted a lot of attention and was to be very influential in later years. In contrast the external design of Busáras was completed between 1945 and 1947, but looked back stylistically at Le Corbusier's work of the 1930s but using the technology and decoration of the 1950s.
When examining the plans of Busáras, the original plans as published in 1948 have to be examined first as this was the intended final design before the change of client caused the elimination of facilities and the re-arrangement of internal elements.
Busáras is sited on an irregular shaped site and in filling that site, has its overall dimensions shaped by it, so it is 242 ft. long on the north side, 200 ft. long on the west side and each of the two blocks are 55 ft. wide. These blocks are sited on a 22 ft. high plinth which extends out between the blocks as the Bus Station concourse. Between these blocks is a curved block capped by a wave contoured cast concrete canopy - this block contains the main station concourse and inspector's office. The concourse space is essentially rectangular along three of its sides with an angled fourth side with a curved corner at the south-east. The irregular shape of the concourse is dictated by the site as the external glazing follows the line of the site boundary although offset some distance from it. Advantage was taken of the double height ground floor to provide a large mezzanine area in the concourse for the provision of a restaurant and bar and an airy double height station area. The double height ground floor was to enable double deck buses to enter the bus yard. Under the two main blocks are large gates allowing buses to enter and exit the loading bays.
As the Busáras building is an 'island' site flanked by three streets - there is no definable back or front to the building although it is usually assumed that the front is the bus loading yard. Thus the façades all received equal treatment and detailing. The main approach to the building is from the city centre from the west, so the pedestrian entrances to the offices and station and the bus entrance to the loading yard are all on the west façade while the buses exit from the north east corner.