Doha recently did not have a metro: the first three of the four lines were commissioned last year, now 37 stations have been commissioned, a total of 70 stations. Therefore, it was important to change the habits of the townspeople so that they move from cars to public transport.
The large project required a standardized approach: UNStudio was responsible for the development of a “design guide” for the metro. According to the principles proposed by the architects, the client, the railway administration, and its contractors have adapted the general scheme to the scale and circumstances of specific projects. Among other things, in Doha, metro stations often serve as underground or elevated crossings, that is, they are used by townspeople not only for long trips, but on short walking routes.
To attract both, UNStudio focused on "creating space, not space": the station interiors are white rooms, where LED lines help you to navigate. It is both an abstract image of the future and a reference to the architecture of Qatar with characteristic vaults and arches. It was also reflected in the design of the pavilions, where the usual golden stone was also used. The story is embodied in a traditional ornament, and the more or less austere exterior and shining, sometimes mother-of-pearl interior offer another metaphor - an oyster.
The design and overall composition of the stations is based on a modular system based on a triangle: its size changes depending on the context of a particular structure.
