Vanguardist Design of the Riyadh Station
The new Riyadh Metro Station, the KAFD, is an architectural gem that transforms the city’s infrastructure. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, it masterfully combines art, architecture, and functionality.
With fluid lines and organic shapes, where the structures evoke the desert dunes, it creates a connection with the natural environment of Saudi Arabia.
Let’s remember that the Riyadh Metro is the longest driverless transportation system in the world, stretching over 176 kilometers and featuring 85 stations.
The new 45,000 m2 station with a capacity for 200,000 passengers will be the main interchange of the network. Designed to solve key problems of traffic congestion and reduce travel times, but also as a symbol of modernity and sustainability.
The building rises as a crucible of futuristic design inspired by nature. Its façade, composed of perforated concrete panels, evokes the desert dunes with geometric patterns that allow natural light to enter and reduce solar heat.
The façade composition reflects the patterns generated by desert winds in the sand
The building’s design is based on a three-dimensional lattice of waves that reflect daily traffic flows, serving as a backbone for circulation.
As the ZHA studio comments… “The design was optimized to increase structural efficiency and environmental performance, without compromising spatial quality; perfectly integrating the self-supporting structure of its envelope with the internal structure of the station”.
The station combines effective passive design features with a high-efficiency cooling system that operates with renewable energies and automatically adjusts to the different passenger levels throughout the day.
The KAFD metro station has obtained the LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council
Additionally, the station integrates six platforms distributed across four levels, connecting to the financial district monorail and offering direct access to King Khalid International Airport.
Located in the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District, the station is surrounded by skyscrapers designed by renowned firms such as HOK, Gensler, and Foster + Partners, consolidating the area as a hub of innovation and development.
The opening of this station is more than a technical advancement; it’s a symbol of how design can change the way we interact with our cities.
The design and operation of the station are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious sustainability goals to reduce its environmental impact thanks to its focus on renewable energies and different passive cooling strategies.
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