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going underground
These are the 17 most beautiful metro stations around the world
Some are works of art.
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IN COUNTRIES AROUND the world, public transportation systems have been transformed into stunning spaces.
With grand chandeliers, architectural designs, and light projections, these metro stations will make your commute anything but boring.
We’ve put together a collection of the most awe-striking metro stations around the globe, from the Formosa Boulevard Station in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to the chandelier-filled Komsomolskaya in Moscow, Russia.
Inside the Formosa Boulevard Station of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is a 4,500-panel glass artwork by Narcissus Quangliata that is said to be the largest glasswork in the world. Thanks to the stunning kaleidoscope effects of the piece, the area has actually been proposed as a venue for weddings.
The Toledo station in Naples, Italy, also stands as a stunning wonderland thanks to the artwork of Robert Wilson, called “Light Panels,” that illuminates the station corridor. With a depth of 164 feet, it’s one of the deepest stations in Naples.
Look up at the stunning ceiling of New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, which also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest railway station by number of platforms with a whopping total of 44 and a secret one that is said to be below the Waldorf Astoria.
The Komsomolskaya station in Moscow, Russia, is a Neoclassical-inspired station designed by Dmitry Chechulin. Inside are chandeliers and ceilings that resemble those found in grand ballrooms and mosaics inspired by a famous wartime speech given by Stalin.
Get lost in the imaginary world of Jules Verne at the Arts Et Métiers Station in Paris, France, which was designed by comic artist François Schuiten and includes copper walls lined with submarine-style windows and giant gears that hang from the ceiling.
Dubai is known for its opulence, and its Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station is no exception. Massive chandeliers in the shapes of glowing jellyfish dangle from its ceilings to cast a blue glow over the station, which also holds images of traditional pearl divers.
The Wesfriedhof Station in Munich, Germany, was designed by Ingo Mauer and includes 11 large concave lamps that fill the space with captivating lights.
The Atocha Train Station in Madrid, Spain, is the city’s largest and includes steel and glass construction blended with tropical gardens throughout its concourse. While waiting for your train, view the station’s display of sculptures.
Over 90 of the subway stations in Stockholm, Sweden, have been decorated with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, and installations by artists. One of them is the Stadion station, which was decorated by artists Enno Hallek and Ake Pallarp and includes a vibrant rainbow painting that lines the arches.
Stockholm is also home to the Kungsträdgården metro station, which houses the relics of the old Stockholm Makalös palace and hosts an impressive industrial-looking design.
Finally in Stockholm, there’s the T-Centralen station, which might not look like anything out of the ordinary from the outside, but once you step inside you’ll come across bright blue and white cave-like platforms that transform the space.
Finally in Stockholm, there’s the T-Centralen station, which might not look like anything out of the ordinary from the outside, but once you step inside you’ll come across bright blue and white cave-like platforms that transform the space.
The Avtovo metro station in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is lined with chandeliers located at the center of the walking areas and on the station platforms, ornaments decorated with Laurel branches, marble columns, stately mosaics, and historical memorials.
The Park Pobedy Station in Moscow, Russia, is also stunning with its stained glass, floor-to-ceiling marble structures, cavernous ceilings, and some of the longest escalators in Europe, each stretching 413 feet.
The Zoloti Vorota in Kiev, Ukraine, was created through a series of artists who filled the station with intricate mosaics along its columns and surfaces. It also hosts chandeliers with candle-shaped lighting to create an elegant space.
Albeit being a tourist attraction rather than a station, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel in Shanghai, China, takes passengers though an underground ride underneath the Huangpu River and includes amazing audio-visual effects.
The entrance of the Palais Royal at the Musee du Louvre in Paris, France, is adorned with the artwork of Jean-Michel Othoniel, which intertwines colored beads to form a beautiful design.
The Mayakovskaya metro station in Moscow, Russia, is considered to be one of the most beautiful. The station is decorated with marble, stainless steel, and lamps hidden inside oval niches on the ceiling with small panels designed by artist Aleksandr Deyneka.
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