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Rail Art, Super Real Station
BY
Cha
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page
1
Metros. Subways. Tubes. Trams. MRT. Underground Urban Railways. U-Bahn. T-Bane. Subte. Call it what you want, the mass rail transport system is the largest form of local transport in most countries and roughly commutes a billion people everyday.
To those of us using them day after day, the thought of metros bring to mind synonyms of ‘tedious’ and ‘monotonous’, and to most of us the often-annoying announcements like ‘please mind the gap’ and ‘next station is (name)’ and the ding-dongs, and the beep-beep-beeps are stuck to our heads. Clearly not too many individuals enjoy train rides except when in a new country. But many local metro operators the world over are all determined to change this mindset of the commuter. They want to prove that train rides to work, play or school can be enjoyable. And after seeing the facts, I’m convinced that the operators are doing a fine job.
For starters, select metro stations in the big cities have pulled out, and in some cases banned ugly advertisements. Of course, they can’t entirely pull out advertisements at stations, which are big sources of income for the Transport Development Authorities. Instead, they fill their walls with interactive advertising frames and screens that add to the aesthetics.
Topnotch architects and architectural firms are hired to design new urban stations and beautify the classic looks of the oldest stations of the world. Of all that come to mind, images of the Bilbao stations designed by Norman Foster, with those distinctive glass entrances referred to as fosteritos, stand out from the rest. The vaulted stations are similar to the Washington metro station, and the lights at the station turn bright when a train is approaching and fades to the original state when the train leaves the platform. Old stations like The Subte in Buenos Aires, the world’s 12th metro system, began operations in 1913. The stations and trains are almost like a museum with the old charm and nostalgia, and the old ones unlike the new are free of advertisements.
Many metro stations have characteristic architecture and design that can identify each stop. Some have sculptures or frescoes. For example, London's Baker Street station is adorned with tiles depicting Sherlock Holmes. Every metro station in Valencia, Spain has a different sculpture on the ticket-hall level. The Red Line subway in Los Angeles was built with different artwork and decorating schemes, such as murals, tile artwork and sculptural benches. One exception is the Bilbao metro stations in Spain, where every station uses the same modern architecture to make navigation easier for the passenger.
Stations as public art galleries. Popular metro stations around the world display a collection of public art to boost its appearance. Many controversial and political public art find their way into metro stations. In Washington, for instance, MetroArts, Metro's Art in Transit Program, installs artwork throughout the metro system. MetroArts works with artists, community groups, government agencies and businesses to install artwork that captures the spirit and vitality of the region and to enhance the travel experience of customers.
In Vienna’s metro, many objects had been excavated during tunnel construction. These objects are now displayed in the stations. The excavated Virgil Chapel under the Stephansdom, dating back to 1250, can be seen from the concourse level of the Stephansplatz station. Even the Hollywood/Vine station on the Red Line in Los Angeles mixes history in its design, with old projectors displayed like sculptures and ceilings covered with film reels. Other initiatives like the Art in Architecture and the Arts on Track project aims to bring the arts to the metro stations in Toronto. Referred to as the world’s longest art gallery, the Stockholm subway system has works of art displayed in every station and dates back to the 1950s. It is estimated that operators in Stockholm spend somewhere between 10 million SEK each year in safeguarding and developing artwork. The list goes on with every major city and its metro system. Artworks have become part of a metro stations interiors.
One of the many optical illusions by Toronto artist Panya Clark Espinal at Bayview Station
Along with the artworks, artists and architects are a big part of most metro stations. Everyone from Frank Gehry to Renzo Piano and Jasper Morrison have been involved in some metro project. Other local artists contribute to projects that install artworks in metros. The Red Line in Los Angeles displays work contributed by more than 250 artists.
Looking into minor details, like the signage and use of typography, London stands out with the use of clear station signs, and the popular logo that you can never miss out in a crowded street. The use of typography in stations, or even in other public systems like buses and streets might not seem like a big deal to the common man, but information design is an important aspect when designing public systems, whatever it may be.
With stations projecting an image of historical monuments, the newer metro stations are more of a modern art museum. The Fulton subway that opened last year received flattering praise, and architect Andrew Whalley of Grimshaw, a London-based architectural firm, that designed the station described how the station would look, calling it the ‘The View’ that he had in mind. The $750 million design not only compliments the subway system and its operators, but also adds to the other landmarks of the city.
Ultimately, if all this art, beauty, and architecture doesn’t interest you, then plug in your MP3 Player and sleep away. You only have your ignorance to blame.
Cha
Writer
TAXI Design Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above banner and all images are courtesy of
Mike Rohde of Metro Bits - the aficionado of underground transportation architecture. Thank you, Mike.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2006 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.
To those of us using them day after day, the thought of metros bring to mind synonyms of ‘tedious’ and ‘monotonous’, and to most of us the often-annoying announcements like ‘please mind the gap’ and ‘next station is (name)’ and the ding-dongs, and the beep-beep-beeps are stuck to our heads. Clearly not too many individuals enjoy train rides except when in a new country. But many local metro operators the world over are all determined to change this mindset of the commuter. They want to prove that train rides to work, play or school can be enjoyable. And after seeing the facts, I’m convinced that the operators are doing a fine job.
For starters, select metro stations in the big cities have pulled out, and in some cases banned ugly advertisements. Of course, they can’t entirely pull out advertisements at stations, which are big sources of income for the Transport Development Authorities. Instead, they fill their walls with interactive advertising frames and screens that add to the aesthetics.
Topnotch architects and architectural firms are hired to design new urban stations and beautify the classic looks of the oldest stations of the world. Of all that come to mind, images of the Bilbao stations designed by Norman Foster, with those distinctive glass entrances referred to as fosteritos, stand out from the rest. The vaulted stations are similar to the Washington metro station, and the lights at the station turn bright when a train is approaching and fades to the original state when the train leaves the platform. Old stations like The Subte in Buenos Aires, the world’s 12th metro system, began operations in 1913. The stations and trains are almost like a museum with the old charm and nostalgia, and the old ones unlike the new are free of advertisements.
Many metro stations have characteristic architecture and design that can identify each stop. Some have sculptures or frescoes. For example, London's Baker Street station is adorned with tiles depicting Sherlock Holmes. Every metro station in Valencia, Spain has a different sculpture on the ticket-hall level. The Red Line subway in Los Angeles was built with different artwork and decorating schemes, such as murals, tile artwork and sculptural benches. One exception is the Bilbao metro stations in Spain, where every station uses the same modern architecture to make navigation easier for the passenger.
Stations as public art galleries. Popular metro stations around the world display a collection of public art to boost its appearance. Many controversial and political public art find their way into metro stations. In Washington, for instance, MetroArts, Metro's Art in Transit Program, installs artwork throughout the metro system. MetroArts works with artists, community groups, government agencies and businesses to install artwork that captures the spirit and vitality of the region and to enhance the travel experience of customers.
In Vienna’s metro, many objects had been excavated during tunnel construction. These objects are now displayed in the stations. The excavated Virgil Chapel under the Stephansdom, dating back to 1250, can be seen from the concourse level of the Stephansplatz station. Even the Hollywood/Vine station on the Red Line in Los Angeles mixes history in its design, with old projectors displayed like sculptures and ceilings covered with film reels. Other initiatives like the Art in Architecture and the Arts on Track project aims to bring the arts to the metro stations in Toronto. Referred to as the world’s longest art gallery, the Stockholm subway system has works of art displayed in every station and dates back to the 1950s. It is estimated that operators in Stockholm spend somewhere between 10 million SEK each year in safeguarding and developing artwork. The list goes on with every major city and its metro system. Artworks have become part of a metro stations interiors.
One of the many optical illusions by Toronto artist Panya Clark Espinal at Bayview Station
Along with the artworks, artists and architects are a big part of most metro stations. Everyone from Frank Gehry to Renzo Piano and Jasper Morrison have been involved in some metro project. Other local artists contribute to projects that install artworks in metros. The Red Line in Los Angeles displays work contributed by more than 250 artists.
Looking into minor details, like the signage and use of typography, London stands out with the use of clear station signs, and the popular logo that you can never miss out in a crowded street. The use of typography in stations, or even in other public systems like buses and streets might not seem like a big deal to the common man, but information design is an important aspect when designing public systems, whatever it may be.
With stations projecting an image of historical monuments, the newer metro stations are more of a modern art museum. The Fulton subway that opened last year received flattering praise, and architect Andrew Whalley of Grimshaw, a London-based architectural firm, that designed the station described how the station would look, calling it the ‘The View’ that he had in mind. The $750 million design not only compliments the subway system and its operators, but also adds to the other landmarks of the city.
Ultimately, if all this art, beauty, and architecture doesn’t interest you, then plug in your MP3 Player and sleep away. You only have your ignorance to blame.
Cha
Writer
TAXI Design Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above banner and all images are courtesy of
Mike Rohde of Metro Bits - the aficionado of underground transportation architecture. Thank you, Mike.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2006 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.