LALEH PARK SUBWAY STATION – alirezashahi.com

Design Frim: Cama Circle

Role: Prepare reports, including spatial analyses and maps, Collaborate in developing the final design idea

Client: Isfahan Urban Railway Organization

Location: Isfahan, Iran

Date: 2015

The notion of characterizing the station as a garden serves as the central concept of this project. Given that subway stations primarily constitute indoor environments, the deliberate transition in spatial sequences, oscillating between enclosed spaces and open areas, is strategically designed to instill a heightened sense of security among its users. The incorporation of a garden-like ambiance within the station’s premises, coupled with its dual purpose of ticket sales and user guidance through environmental graphics, aims to engage the entirety of human senses. By doing so, it effectively mitigates the feeling of confinement often associated with the amalgamation of construction materials within enclosed spaces.

This concept is underpinned by the adoption of the “cutting and covering” construction method. The selection of this method is driven by pragmatic considerations and technical imperatives uniquely associated with this specific station.

Urban Invisible Network

Following the industrial revolution that swept across the globe in 1863, a novel mode of public transportation emerged, transforming the social fabric of urban life in England. This innovation, known as the metro, gave rise to an underground network, necessitating the establishment of intermediary spaces connecting subterranean infrastructure with the surface—a realm we refer to as the transit space. This intermediary space functions as a pivotal juncture, facilitating the seamless transition of individuals between the concealed subterranean network and the interconnected tapestry of urban spaces at ground level. In effect, it engenders fresh intersections among preexisting urban zones. These nascent spaces introduce novel paradigms for human interaction and engagement, encompassing elements such as wayfinding and signage systems, infographics, architectural design, and the holistic spatial experience.

Invisible Cities, illustrator: Carina Ponte, author: Italo Calvino

Wayfinding and Signage

Information Graphics

During the classical era, landmark buildings played a pivotal role as easily recognizable points of reference within the cityscape. However, as we transitioned into the modern era, the need for explicit signage on buildings became increasingly apparent. This shift in perception was not confined solely to the exterior urban environment; it also extended to interior spaces. Consequently, a novel lexicon of signage and wayfinding emerged to delineate and navigate these contemporary spaces effectively.

Information graphics encompass a crucial aspect of interior design, finding their placement in spaces such as parking lots, floor entrances, stairwells, elevators, and more. These direct signage elements serve as invaluable aids to users, enhancing their overall experience within the environment. To create an effective signage system, it is imperative to distill the intricate components of the environment into straightforward and comprehensible visual cues, ensuring they are readily accessible and intelligible to the public.

Designer: France Hector Guimard (1942-1867) | Lyon, France

Designer: Heins & LaFarge (est, 1886) | New York, USA

Architecture

Spatial Experience

Transit spaces demand a streamlined organizational approach, facilitating swift and uninterrupted passage for individuals as they traverse through spatial sequences to reach their intended destinations. This spatial arrangement exerts influence over the architectural framework, spatial interconnections, and entry points of the structure. Metro stations, in particular, can be categorized into four primary functional domains: the ticket sales hall, the waiting area for train boarding, auxiliary facilities, and office spaces.

Enclosed spaces possess a distinctive influence on human psychology and can be intentionally designed and crafted to foster cultural enrichment while enhancing public mood and user satisfaction. The concept of spatial experience hinges upon the creation of unique and noteworthy attributes within a given space, which subsequently leaves a lasting impression on individuals who traverse it. In subway stations, meticulous design endeavors are undertaken to imbue these spaces with distinctive characteristics that resonate with those passing through, thus curating a profound and memorable spatial experience.

Washington, USA, 1977

Stockholm, Sweden, 1950

Context

The transit of subway Line 2 through various sectors of Isfahan necessitates the formulation of scenarios for the implementation of environmental graphics within the stations. These graphics play a pivotal role in establishing unique identities for each station, significantly enhancing users’ ability to identify their precise location within the transit system

The Laleh subway station (R2) occupies a pivotal position at the confluence of the second metro line and the third ring of Isfahan’s traffic infrastructure, rendering it a central hub within the transit network. This strategic station serves as a critical nexus, facilitating connections between the metro line and Isfahan International Airport to the east, while also offering seamless access to the city center on the western front.

Situated on the cusp of the urban core and its surrounding suburbs, this station occupies a position within one of the recently developed sectors of the city, meticulously aligned with urban planning initiatives. The area’s foremost social asset is exemplified by the presence of Laleh Park, underscoring its significance within the broader urban landscape.

Site Location

This station serves as a pivotal linkage point, connecting the metro line to the intersection of Parvin Street and Chamran Freeway. Consequently, it establishes crucial transportation access routes to both the airport and the heart of the city. Moreover, it holds the distinction of being categorized as a station with moderate traffic, attracting nearly 90% of commuters heading toward the city center.

The functions within this area are diversely distributed, with approximately 60% allocated to residential use, 25% dedicated to green spaces, and the remaining 16% earmarked for various work and recreational activities.

Design

Within subway stations, streamlining access pathways is of paramount importance to enhance user-friendliness. The primary linkage point within the station occurs between the ticket hall and the train waiting platform. Here, the implementation of a straightforward loop design can supplant convoluted movements, thereby establishing a space conducive to adaptable management and user convenience.

The design of this subway station demonstrates a keen focus on meeting the diverse needs of its users while addressing the environmental impact. To overcome the constraints of the construction method, a section of the park was excavated, resulting in a 120×24 meter space with a depth of 20 meters, which was then utilized to house the station’s infrastructure.

The layout of the station is thoughtfully organized into three main segments:

Platform: The station platform offers direct train access and connects to the installation space beneath it.
Sunken Courtyard: A ticket hall with considerable height provides visibility across the sunken courtyard from within. This hall also links to the administrative section and the park access route on the opposite side.
Administrative Part: Housing management, security facilities, and parts of the facility spaces, this section is physically separate from the station but attached to it. This approach simplifies construction and mimics the appearance of a three-story building. It is strategically situated within the ground to enable independent access from the park.

The station’s air circulation facilities are situated beneath the sunken courtyard, ensuring accessible maintenance from the ground level. Elements protruding from the ground have been designed to resemble statues in the park, enhancing the aesthetic integration of the station with its natural surroundings.

The core concept of the design revolves around the interplay between full and empty spaces. Upon exiting the train and navigating through the designated loop, passengers enter an expansive 24×120 meter open area—a sunken garden within Laleh Park. Mirrors lining the garden’s walls create the illusion of an endless garden within the pit, effectively guiding users towards ground level and reconnecting them with the park.

The installation of mirrors serves a dual purpose. They enhance the perception of an infinite garden within the sunken courtyard and contribute to the station’s distinctive identity within the park. Additionally, a canopy has been incorporated into the design, transforming the terraced garden into a semi-enclosed space. This canopy serves as a symbolic marker for locating the station within the park and features solar panels, generating clean energy for illuminating the sunken courtyard and exemplifying sustainable energy practices.

Project Affiliates

Principal Designer: Ali Sheikholeslam

Design Team: Alireza Shahi, Adib Iravani, Norvik Abkarian

Structural Engineer: Saeid Soheilipour

Electrical Engineer: Mohammad Sajadi

Mechanical Engineer: Ali Afshin