The intriguingly designed Villejuif-Gustave Roussy metro station in Paris has recently been made accessible to the public.
The Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, a remarkable addition to the Grand Paris Express metro network, recently inaugurated in January, is not just a transport hub but a vibrant centre that integrates public spaces, shops, and services.
Located in the heart of the ZAC Campus Grand Parc and serving the renowned Institut Gustave-Roussy, the only oncology biocluster in France, the station is designed to blur the boundaries between the city-centre and its suburbs.
The architectural mastermind behind this stunning structure is Dominique Perrault, a renowned architect and urban planner. Perrault's design for Villejuif-Gustave Roussy is a testament to his innovative approach, with the station sinking into the ground and disappearing from the horizon, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding public space.
The station's body is an open concrete cylinder with a diameter of 70m, resembling an 'inverted skyscraper'. Materials used in the station include concrete, glass, and stainless steel, with various textures to create different ambiances. The interior layout, lighting, and acoustics were designed to avoid a typical 'underground' feel, allowing natural light to cascade into the lower realms.
The interior of the station is home to a captivating artwork by Chilean artist Ivan Navarro. Cadran Solaire, a depiction of a starry sky made up of neon lights and mirrors, illuminates the station with a celestial glow.
The Grand Paris Express, of which Villejuif-Gustave Roussy is a part, is a metro network linking suburbs without crossing Paris. The project, which began construction in 2016, is set to deliver 200 km of automated metro and 68 stations by 2030.
The development of the areas surrounding the stations is a key focus of the Grand Paris Express project. Future office and housing buildings are planned to revamp the area around Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, further enhancing its role as a bustling hub.
A significant €35 million has been allocated for the inclusion of contemporary art in the 68 stations of the Grand Paris Express, ensuring each station becomes a unique and inspiring destination.
Contrary to some misconceptions, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy is not 'uncomfortable, cold, damp' or 'obscure'. Instead, it stands as a beacon of modern architecture and urban planning, a testament to the vision of the Grand Paris Express project.
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