But London is not the only city that has updated its underground network since the early 2000s, write Dezeen and shares the photo ten metro stations designed in recent years by architects from all over the world.
Elizabeth Line, Great Britain
Elizabeth Line. Photo: Crossrail/Transport for London
Elizabeth line. Photo: Crossrail/Transport for London
10 new central stations designed by architectural studios, including Aedas, Hawkins\Brown, Wilkinson Eyre and Allies and Morrison, were created on the Elizabeth line subway branch.
The project was adapted to the requirements related to functionality and security. For example, station turns follow the smooth curve of train tunnels to reduce the risk of collisions between passengers.
Line 9, China
Line 9. Photo: CHAPA
Line 9. Image: dezeen.com
Architectural studios J&A and Sepanta Design developed a project to create 13 stations of one of the subway branches in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
The 22-kilometer-long underground railway station is designed with flowing shapes and lines inspired by local flora and fauna. In particular, the design of Jincheng Avenue station resembles lotus flowers.
Orienktaj station, Denmark
Orienktaj station. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
Orienktaj station. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
Together with the Arup engineering firm, the Cobe architectural bureau implemented a project to build two metro stations as part of the development of the Copenhagen coast.
One of them is terrestrial and has a symbolic design. Its outline reproduces silhouettes similar to cranes and dock containers standing on the shore near the reservoir.
Doha Metro, Qatar
Doha Metro Station. Photo: Hufton and Crow
Doha Metro Station. Photo: Hufton and Crow
The 37 vaulted metro stations in Qatar were designed by the Dutch archstudio UNStudio together with the city's Department of Railway Architecture. The concept of the project was to adhere to the style of traditional Qatari architecture and its history, taking into account the modern vision of the city.
Stations Noord/Zuidlijn, Netherlands
Noord/Zuidlijn stations. Photo: Jannes Linders
Noord/Zuidlijn stations. Photo: Jannes Linders
Dutch firm Benthem Crouwel Architects designed seven stations for the Noord/Zuidlijn metro line in Amsterdam, two of which are underground.
In order to maintain the appearance of each of them, such materials were used in the design that they were easy to clean and replace. At the same time, thanks to the transparent glass spaces, a sense of continuous public space was created.
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Canada
Vaughan Metropolitan Center Station. Photo: Shai Gil
Vaughan Metropolitan Center Station. Photo: Shai Gil
The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is a hub that connects the subway to express bus routes and other ground transportation.
Its feature is the exterior, which helps reveal the style of the interior. The unusual but harmonious shape of the station's facade resembles the metal shell of a giant armadillo. Thanks to the mirror roof, the architects achieved the effect of uniform distribution of natural and artificial light throughout the space.
The Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz S-Bahn, Germany
The Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz S-Bahn station. Photo: Stefan Müller
The Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz S-Bahn station. Photo: Stefan Müller
Illuminated glass blocks stretch along a 40-meter tunnel that leads to Leipzig's subway station, designed by Swiss architect Max Dudler.
Each of the blocks that make up the walls is fixed to a metal frame, backlit and set into a concrete frame. In this way, the platform appears completely seamless.
The Angle Lake Transit Station and Plaza, USA
The Angle Lake Transit Station and Plaza. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider and Brooks + Scarpa
The Angle Lake Transit Station and Plaza. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider and Brooks + Scarpa
Californian arch studio Brooks + Scarpa wrapped the Seattle transit center in a bright blue facade that resembles the waves of the sea. For this, they used 7500 aluminum panels, which were connected by connecting two curves with a series of straight lines.
In addition to the fact that there are commercial and public spaces here, the building also functions as a ground station of one of the metro lines.
Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, Canada
Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project. Photo: Wade Zimmerman
Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project. Photo: Wade Zimmerman
As part of the Toronto-York subway expansion project, the British architect Will Alsop created two stations - Pioneer Village and Finch West.
Their specialty is a combination of fairytale and industrial motifs, which are reproduced in cantilevered roofs, polished concrete interior walls and distinctive bright colors.
Stations of the M4 metro line, Hungary
Station M4 metro line. Photo: Tamás Bujnovszky
Crossed concrete beams reinforce the excavation walls of two new stations that have been added to the Budapest metro network by local studio Spora Architects.
Both stations used a cut-and-cover construction method in which spaces were excavated from top to bottom, allowing the architects to bring daylight from the surface to the deepest levels.
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