The World's 18 Strangest Train Stations
When riding a train or subway involves waiting in a dingy, dark, bland station, fleeing to the comfort of our cars—even in the face of endless traffic— becomes tempting. Some architects hear your pain and have designed stations that are comfortable, efficient and interesting. Here are the most innovative transit-station designs in the world.
Shibuya Station—Tokyo, Japan
Background:
Designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Shibuya station is one of the
busiest commuter-rail stations in Japan—it serves over 2 million
passengers each day. The station is a gateway from the center of Tokyo
to its suburbs.
Why It's Unique: Nielsen says that when architects are designing a station, they want a commuter's experience to be pleasant. "We're trying to encourage people to use the system," he says. "We're trying to encourage people to get out of their cars and take transit." Ando designed his station as an underground spaceship. Passengers are carried down into the underground flying saucer through a three-level atrium in the station. And this spaceship is also environmentally conscious, allowing fresh air and light to travel through the atrium and ventilation shaft, as well as holding a water cooling system in the fiberglass walls, cutting down the station's power usage.
Why It's Unique: Nielsen says that when architects are designing a station, they want a commuter's experience to be pleasant. "We're trying to encourage people to use the system," he says. "We're trying to encourage people to get out of their cars and take transit." Ando designed his station as an underground spaceship. Passengers are carried down into the underground flying saucer through a three-level atrium in the station. And this spaceship is also environmentally conscious, allowing fresh air and light to travel through the atrium and ventilation shaft, as well as holding a water cooling system in the fiberglass walls, cutting down the station's power usage.
Hachikō - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bronze statue of Hachiko in front of train station of Shibuya, Tokyo .... A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: from Folklore and Kabuki to Anime ...
Iidabashi Station—Tokyo, Japan
Background:
Designed by architect Makoto Sei Wantanabe, the Iidabashi Station is
home to Oedo line on the Tokyo Metro, one of the busiest subway systems
in the world.
Why It's Unique: The station features computer-generated "evolutionary architecture" on both the inside and outside of the station. The interior features a geometric green light sculpture lining the escalator shaft, while the exterior features futuristic glass and steel pod shapes. The station looks like something from another world.
Why It's Unique: The station features computer-generated "evolutionary architecture" on both the inside and outside of the station. The interior features a geometric green light sculpture lining the escalator shaft, while the exterior features futuristic glass and steel pod shapes. The station looks like something from another world.
The 51 Busiest Train Stations in the World– All but 6 Located in Japan
Jan 30, 2013 – A couple of days ago this little graph surfaced online displaying some interesting statistics. It's a bar chart of the busiest train stations in the world ...
