Subways of the world: photo essay

This selection of photos of some of the top subway systems in the world was first published by Designboom.com.

London’s underground became the first subway system in the world when it began operation in 1863. Since then, underground subways have been built in almost every major city of the world. from New York and Paris to Hong Kong and Dubai. Subways are an essential part of public transportation in cities. Within these systems, architecture plays a big role in defining the environment of the subway. here is a collection of some of the most architecturally interesting subway stations.


Stockholm tunnelbana, the subway system in stockholm, sweden, features art installations in almost every station. the city’s 100 stations feature art by almost 140 artists and it is often called the world’s longest art gallery. The system may focus on artwork, but it also features a number of stations with unusual architecture. The t-centralen station is one of the most distinctive designed by Per Olof Ultvedt in 1975. the station features a massive mural painted on the cavern like ceiling that exposes the rocky core of the city. Many of the system’s stations also feature this unique cavern ceiling that gives them an organic feeling and unique atmosphere.

In Moscow, the Komsomolskaya Station definitely goes down as the most elaborate subway station. The design was built in the 1930s and features large chandeliers, vaulted plaster ceilings and arched walkways. The classical design of the space gives the station a palatial feeling, not something you see in most subways. The station also boasts hand painted frescoes and detailed plaster molding on almost every surface.

Barcelona, Drassanes Station was recently remodeled by the Spanish firm on-a Arquitectura. The space’s new design was based on the concept of using the same materials as the subway cars that drive through the station. a white concrete covers the walls and slowly blends into the floors which were made vibration proof. The ceiling was made black to contrast the white and is lined with long angular light fixtures. other corridors in the station feature a mosaic of oversized tiles in a variety of vivid colors.

Toronto’s Museum Station is unique. Most of the subways stations in Toronto are very traditional, however museum station is right below the city’s Royal Ontario Museum. The new station replaces simple columns with recreations of the museum’s collection including Egyptian Sarcophaguses, totem poles and Mayan statues. The station also has walls clad with large aluminum
panels that are cut-out with the station name to reveal a hieroglyphics pattern behind. The unique station links
the subway with the museum above.

Munich’s U-bahn subway system began in 1972, but it has quickly grown into a 98 station system spread across the entire city. because of its young age Munich had the advantage of learning from the mistakes of other systems creating spacious and efficient stations. While the first stations were quite plain, the architecture of its new stations is often quite daring. Some stand-out stations include the colourful Dulferstrasse Station designed
by Peter Lanz and Jurgen Rauch and Westfriedhof, which features lighting installations by Ingo Mauer.

The Bilbao Metro is unusual among subway systems since it was designed and engineered as a whole. The stations were all designed by Foster+Partners, who set to use dramatic curved forms to create a signature look for the city’s transportation infrastructure. Inside the stations, the space was kept as open as possible, using the full height and width of the underground tunnels. Above ground, each station features a curved glass entrance that is reminiscent of a shell and became known as a fosteritos by locals.