At the beginning of November, the Prix Versailles unveiled its selection of the most beautiful train stations in the world. After a few weeks of deliberations, the final rankings have just been announced, and good news, the big winner is none other than… one of the brand new metro stations designed by the Grand Paris Express. But which of these stops deserves such a distinction?
A breathtaking construction
And the big winner is… the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, served by the line 14 and soon line 15, inaugurated last January. A true architectural feat, with a stunning design that is simply fascinating. And for good reason, there are 9 levels plunging underground waiting for passengers. They will then have to delve into the m...andres from the earth to reach the dock of 14 at -7, or that of 15 at -9, about 50 meters below sea level.
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To serve this underground maze, designed by architect Dominique Perrault (who is also behind the BnF and its 4 monumental books), the people of Île-de-France will have at their disposal 32 escalators and 16 elevators. And of course, every space in this new building will be accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM).. However, we will have to wait until 2027 to enjoy the connection with line 15.
A true jewel of light
To (literally) crown the design that’s unlike any other of this one-of-a-kind station, the architect has envisioned a huge rounded and striped glass roof, much like a circus tent . A gigantic skylight that illuminates the entire structure with natural light, reaching all the way down to the deepest platforms.
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Another ceiling will stand out from the rest, the one at the platform of line 15, which will be entirely covered by a work from the Chilean artist Iván Navarro. It will be created using 58 light boxes — to keep illuminating the path a little — featuring the names of a variety of stellar objects. Meet you in 2027 to see all of this and find out if the station will keep its title by then!