Spectacular designs for a lavish metro station in the centre of Riyadh have gone on show, demonstrating once again the huge investment that is driving the Middle East’s rail boom.
A concept for the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects has been chosen by the authority which is developing the city’s new metro system – The ArRiyadh Development Authority.
The new station, which features a lattice design made up of ‘a sequence of opposing sine-waves’, will cover almost 20,500 square metres and create connections to three of the six lines of the proposed metro system.
King Abdullah has instructed the new Riyadh Metro system be completed in the next four years.
Showcasing the designs, Zaha Hadid Architects said: “The project extends beyond the simple station typology to emphasize the building’s importance as a dynamic, multi-functional public space. Not only an intermediate place perceived through quick transitions, but also a dramatic public space for the city.”
