Station to station

September 29, 2005 7:34 AM

Inside metros. Cities with interesting stations [with links]. Some have works of art. Some are works of art. I notice Sydney, Australia is not on the list - no surprise there.
posted by tellurian (37 comments total)

Corrected link. I think this has been posted before, though.
posted by brownpau at 7:39 AM on September 29, 2005

Why Boston?

We have some of the ugliest, concrete mausoleums of sub-proletariat transport that can be devised.

I dare anyone that can point out a T station that has an merit whatsoever.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:54 AM on September 29, 2005

Sorry, Peacay my stuffed link failed to advise me. #1 alerted.
posted by tellurian at 8:07 AM on September 29, 2005

Mind you, I glance up from my paper or book each morning and (depending which side of the carriage I'm on) look at Utzon's Sydney Opera House or Siedler's Blues Point Tower.
posted by tellurian at 8:14 AM on September 29, 2005

Nice link, thanks.
posted by Rothko at 8:32 AM on September 29, 2005

We have some of the ugliest, concrete mausoleums of sub-proletariat transport that can be devised.

I think its really odd that you use the term sub-proletariat. I would have used it too, thinking of the usual drab, horrid soviet architecture. Then I look at the Soviet bloc stations in incredible grandeur. Even Pyongyang has an impressive design.

On a different note, I noticed that some of the LA pictures actually showed people in them, that's also a shocker!
posted by Pollomacho at 8:32 AM on September 29, 2005

jsavimbi, I've always liked the Kendall/MIT station. It has the chimes you can ring by handcrank, if nothing else.
posted by skynxnex at 8:33 AM on September 29, 2005

Seattle's bus stops are frequently the sites of murals and such... it's nice but some are laughably bad, although it's better than matte brown plastic.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 8:37 AM on September 29, 2005

Goddamn, I'm so fucking jealous of people who not only have transit systems but transit systems that look like this.




posted by Tlogmer at 8:40 AM on September 29, 2005

posted by Tlogmer at 8:46 AM on September 29, 2005

And for real Toronto subway devotees (apparently they exist) there are the TTC Transit Buttons.

Surprisingly, it doesn't appear to have been posted on the front page.
posted by GuyZero at 8:49 AM on September 29, 2005

God, I miss Montréal.
posted by Rothko at 8:50 AM on September 29, 2005

Great link, thanks. I have to say that I always liked the T stations because the art in them is subtle and sometimes you have to look for it, like the mentioned chimes at Kendall/MIT or the giant hands in the lower Park station. Still, I think you compare it to some of these other stations and it makes you wonder how much we value public transport.
posted by Staggering Jack at 8:52 AM on September 29, 2005

Here's a weblog entry from a Lisbon weblog about the Parque subway station, filled with astronomical references and literary quotes.
posted by vacapinta at 8:55 AM on September 29, 2005

GuyZero re: buttons - replicas of the tile art and visual landmarks of Toronto's subway stations. Please explain, what are these? They look cool but I have no idea what they signify.
posted by tellurian at 9:00 AM on September 29, 2005

How did Toronto get on that list?

OK, so the optical illusion is kinda cool. And yes, each station has unique tiling patterns (which is what the buttons are about, tellurian). But really, as much as I love my city, we have the butt-ugliest subway stations.
posted by howling fantods at 9:25 AM on September 29, 2005

I think there's more artistic merit in the T simply because it was first, though the sound installation at Kendall/MIT really is nice.
posted by ArsncHeart at 9:26 AM on September 29, 2005

As howling said, each station has a semi-unique tiling colour scheme/pattern. I think some stations look alike, but some are very distinctive, such as Spadina with its round tiles. (I think it's Spadina.). Anyway, the buttons are a homage to the stations. Plus the funky modernist font the subway uses.
posted by GuyZero at 9:33 AM on September 29, 2005

My favorite is Paris Metro. Not only is the design great, but they are simple to navigate and make your way around the city.
posted by vannsant at 9:47 AM on September 29, 2005

Nice, thanks!
posted by carter at 9:50 AM on September 29, 2005

howling fantods "as much as I love my city, we have the butt-ugliest subway stations."
Visit Sydney. The best we did was to go retro at one station - Wynyard - (tiled walls - no one would ever think of making buttons of them, they're the same as every other underground and are reminiscent of the 6 o'clock swill) with video on the absent advertising spots.
posted by tellurian at 9:53 AM on September 29, 2005

jsavimbi: the new airport stop is nice, although it isn't particularly inspiring. It doesn't really compete with any of the stations shown in the link.
posted by MillMan at 10:21 AM on September 29, 2005

My favorite is Paris Metro. Not only is the design great, but they are simple to navigate

I would respectfully disagree. I have never had so many annoying transfers as I did in Paris.

And while I do love the funny little brass people at the Fourteenth Street-Eighth Avenue stop, so much of the NYC subway's beauty is in its utlilitarian forms. (For me.)
posted by dame at 10:48 AM on September 29, 2005

tellurian, have a look at the old Rookwood cemetery platform at Central station in Sydney - a friend got married in the adjacent chapel. It's not technically part of the system as it isn't used anymore but it's still visible and quite lovely.
posted by peacay at 10:54 AM on September 29, 2005

or is that Redfern...ummm..um ?
posted by peacay at 10:55 AM on September 29, 2005

Oh, and I wish they made buttons like that for the stops on the L train. In the Brooklyn stops, the decorative tile-work is made has different color schemes, though some are only subtly different.
posted by dame at 10:56 AM on September 29, 2005

Budapest has some lovely and quite old (1896) stations, some of which are very reminiscent of the older-style LDN tube stops.
posted by shoepal at 11:07 AM on September 29, 2005

peacay: I see that every morning, yes it is wonderful... but it's a show pony/venue moneymaker for the STA. Overall I would say our metro is 0 compared to others. AND we don't have buttons.
posted by tellurian at 11:20 AM on September 29, 2005

OK, everyone saying their city has the worst stations has clearly never been to Buffalo.

This is the bomb shelter I have to wait in every morning.


posted by Kellydamnit at 11:42 AM on September 29, 2005

Okay, Kellydamnit. It looks bleak. Do we have a situation on that far platform, the yellow cone says "Don't walk here we have a spill". And do you have buttons?
posted by tellurian at 12:00 PM on September 29, 2005

No buttons. But I can ride the train, and any bus, all I want for $66 a month.

The cone is there quite frequently. I believe there is some sort of leak.

It's not winter in the picture, judging by the clothes, so it isn't a melted-snow issue (a big problem at the base of the stairs)
posted by Kellydamnit at 12:13 PM on September 29, 2005

I'd rather cities spend money on more important things than special designs for the simple systems they have in place.
posted by cleverusername at 3:36 PM on September 29, 2005

See, the 'Museum' station in Sydney I find to be a thing of beauty.

It has all the regular advertising hordings and station accroutrement, but they're all in 1920's style - very cool.
posted by oliyoung at 4:55 PM on September 29, 2005

With all the stations in Montreal they could have found a more interesting one to show (architecturally), like Lionel-Groulx...

The one near my place (Place D'Armes) has local archeology displays.
posted by clevershark at 5:11 PM on September 29, 2005

I dare anyone that can point out a T station that has an merit whatsoever.

Park Street Station, for the smell alone.
posted by brandz at 6:55 PM on September 29, 2005

Yes, Item, the optical illusion is in fact a photographic illusion. I am greatful to the Toronto Transit Commission. I ride it every day of the week and it's relatively efficient and affordable, but it is completely lacking in character. One station-- Dupont-- is almost pretty, and a few are frightening in an interesting way, but it is filthy, ugly and utilitarian, in the worst sense of the word, and really, it's not that convenient if you don't live down town.

Not to bitch. It does make my down-town life comfortable and stress free, but it pales in comparison to the other subways on this list.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:06 PM on September 29, 2005

*jaw drops*

I never knew train stations could be so beautiful. Do I envy? Yes, yes I do!
posted by Lush at 7:58 PM on September 30, 2005