As part of the metro system development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Norwegian architecture studio Snohetta has designed the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown station as a sustainable space of urban nature. A hyperbolic stainless steel structure marks the entrance to the underground station, and though it may give off a stark impression, it supports sustainability while leading to a hidden haven, which includes an atrium and garden. The street level canopy sculpture provides shade in the desert climate of Saudi Arabia, while its surfaces control light entering the station and are capable of collecting solar light energy using fiber optics.
Neighbored by a mosque, the station encourages communal and religious gathering in its surrounding above-ground areas. The design has been recognized for its awareness of the natural and social environment and is one of three winning selections for new stations to be built for the Riyadh Metro.
[via Designboom]
