Published on: 10/22/2015IST

Under-ground metro stations are associated with rats, garbage, noise and filth, not architecture. However, there are a few metro stations in the world that go against the grain, standing out as excellent examples of the beautiful architecture and interiors that can be created in underground spaces.

The interiors achieved in some of these metro stations become all the more impressive when you consider the challenges unique to creating comfortable underground spaces. The architects must keep track of the structural integrity of the walls, air circulation, excessive moisture, and a million other concerns. Their maintenance is another difficulty entirely – one that transit organizations often have difficulty with.

Vote for your favorite stations and, if there's a beautiful metro station in your city that should be on this list, we'd love to see it!

#1 Toledo Metro Station, Naples, Italy

#2 Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya And Park Pobedy Stations, Moscow, Russia

#3 Rĺdhuset Station, Stockholm, Sweden

#4 Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia

#5 Tilework In Szent Gellért Square, Budapest, Hungary

#6 University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy

#7 Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China

#8 Arts Et Métiers Station, Paris, France

#9 Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

#10 Kungstradgarden Metro Station, Stokholm, Sweden

#11 City Hall Station, New York

#12 T-Centralen Station, Stockholm, Sweden

#13 Olaias Station, Lisbon, Portugal

#14 Stadion Station, Stockholm, Sweden

#15 Slavyansky Bulvar Station, Moscow, Russia

#16 Stockholm, "the Water Lily Station" - Näckrosen

#17 Atocha, Madrid, Spain

#18 Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany

#19 Tunel, Istanbul Old Metro, Turkey

#20 Metro Station Wilhelminaplein (wilhelmina Square), Rotterdam, The Netherlands

#21 Oez, Munich

#22 Malostranská Station In Prague.

#23 Budapest Metro 4

#24 Săo Bento Station, Porto, Portugal

#25 "zoloti Vorota" Station, Kiev, Ukraine

#26 Hamburg Hafencity Metro

#27 Namur Station Lighting, Montréal

#28 Finding It Hard To Step Up

#29 Kyoto Station, Japan

#30 Metro Station Plac Wilsona, Warsaw, Poland

#31 Syntagma Station, Athens, Greece

#32 Ličge Guillemins, Belgium

#33 #17 U3-volkstheater, Vienna, Austria

#34 Bochum Rathaus, Germany

#35 Parque Metro Station, Lisbon, Portugal

#36 Devyatkino, St. Petersburg, Russia

#37 Arbatskaya Station, Moscow, Russia

#38 U-bahn Station Westfriedhof, Munich, Germany

#39 Metro Station Pannenhuis - Brussels

#40 Lavov Most Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#41 Kremlevskaya Metro Station, Kazan, Russia

#42 Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "baikonyr"

#43 National Stadium Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#44 Metro Station In Dubai - Uae

#45 Caís Do Sodré Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

#46 Rákóczi Square, Budapest, Hungary

#47 Belgica Station - Brussels

#48 Estación De Metro Arganzuela-planetario (madrid, Espańa)

#49 Namur Station Lighting, Montreal, Canada

#50 Duvbo Subwaystation, Stockholm

#51 Nydalen Metro Stastion, Oslo, Norway. Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter

#52 Terreiro Do Paço Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

#53 Lisbon Airport Metro Station, Portugal

#54 Emirates Towers Metro Station, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

#55 Mladost 3 Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#56 Joliot Curie Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#57 European Union Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#58 Musagenitsa Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

#59 Metro Station Wilhelminaplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

#60 Hamburg, Hafencity Metro Station

#61 Metro Copilco Station (mexico City) . Mexico.

#62 Bochum, U35 Haltestelle Rathaus

#63 Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "alatau"

#64 Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

#65 Hafencity University, Hamburg, Germany

#66 Marienplatz, Munich, Germany

#67 Rathaus Spandau U-bahn Station, Berlin

#68 Titan Station, Bucharest, Romania

#69 Střížkov Station, Prague, Czech Republic

#70 Garching Forchungzentrum (tum Station), Munich, Germany

#71 Syntagma Station, Athens, Greece

#72 Station Champ-de-mars, Montréal

#73 Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic

#74 Union Station, Los Angeles, California

#75 Westminster Station, London

#76 Shibuya Station, Tokyo

#77 Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

#78 Steglitz Station, Berlin, Germany

#79 Rajská Zahrada Station, Prague, Czech Republic

#80 Lohring, Bochum, Germany

#81 Fővám Square, Rákóczi Square And Bikás Park, Budapest, Hungary

#82 Stockholm T-bana, Rissne

#83 Маяковская, St. Petersburg, Russia

#84 Móricz Zsigmond Station, Budapest, Hungary

10/22/2015 | | Permalink