Riyadh’s Downtown Metro a Beacon of Civic Urban Pride
Norwegian architectural design consultancy Snøhetta has designed a ‘bold and unwavering symbol’ for the Downtown Metro station, which will become an icon for the renaissance of the city of Riyadh.
Arriyadh Development Authority announced the winning design in its competition for the three main Metro stations of Riyadh, which will provide modern travel, shopping and dining facilities. Also chosen were designs from Gerber Architekten of Germany for Olaya Metro Station, and Zaha Hadid from the United Kingdom for King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station.
Snøhetta’s winning concept summary describes a downtown urban oasis providing shade, light and air. A central glazed atrium will channel daylight down to a sunken garden, while a polished steel canopy acts as a periscope reflecting movement in the surrounding streets, linking the station with dynamic urban life above.
In accordance with Snøhetta’s philosophy of social responsibility and sustainable design, the striking development reflects what they call the new consciousness of this generation, building for a future that values natural resources. A daylight-harvesting system based on fibre-optics, will channel daylight to light fittings in the below grade levels, so that lighting can be maintained during the day without using energy and avoiding bringing heat into the building. At night, lights from the retail and station areas will reflect up into the canopy presenting an ever-changing and dynamic image to the Plaza above.
Within the Plaza, palm trees provide shade while irrigation channels act as a subtle water feature. The trees follow the direction of the mosque in the south-west corner of the site (and thus Mecca). The mosque’s northern and eastern walls open onto the Plaza itself, and on special days and gatherings the Plaza becomes the natural extension of the more intimate mosque interior.
The new Downtown Metro will be a beacon promoting public ownership and a new era of civic urban pride.
