T-Centralen Station (Stockholm, Sweden)
Expo MRT Station (Singapore)
When E.T. phoned home, it might have been to Singapore's Expo MRT Station. The giant flying saucer-shaped subway station is the first stop out of Changi Airport Branch Line. (Singapore's airport is also famous for its visual appeal and amenities.) The fanciful shell-shaped roof of this metro stop is meant to deflect the extreme heat common in Singapore so that commuters are more comfortable. And, let's be honest, it looks pretty darn cool, too.
Canary Wharf Station (London)
A canopy of glass covers Canary Wharf Station in London, adding the perfect amount of light and design to the unique public space. Escalators made of steel and concrete add sleek, clean lines to this underground architecture. These simple elements come together for one beautifully cool subway station (or "tube station," if you're British).
Arts et Métiers Station (Paris)
Covered in copper and topped with giant cogs, the Arts et Métiers (literally translated "Arts and Trades") Station in Paris feels more like a submarine than a subway station. This uniquely designed transportation hub sits under a museum of the same name. Industrial design is the focus of both the metro stop and museum, with portholes enclosing curious contraptions, inspired by the 1870 novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne.
Fulton Center Station (New York City)
In New York City, close to the World Trade Center Memorial, you'll find Fulton Center Station, a transit hub connecting nine subway lines. The most striking feature of this station is the massive steel and glass structure that rises 53 feet above ground. The ceiling is a functional piece of art, deflecting 95 percent of light that hits it, keeping subway travelers as cool as this subway station is.
Paco de Lucia Station (Madrid)
A cool, color-blasted mural of Paco de Lucia, a legendary flamenco guitarist, watches over the station named after him in Madrid, Spain. If you look closely at the painting, you'll find stars in his eyes and what appears to be a conflicting artistic style. The mural's mix of techniques comes from the three different artists who worked on it, demonstrating both the individuality and interconnectedness of Madrid, street art and transportation.
The Heidelberger Platz Station (Berlin)
Rarely are subway stations described as being bright, but the Heidelberger Platz metro station in Berlin, with its vaulted ceilings and block-shaped lighting fixtures, is just that. The school-bus-yellow U-Bahn trains that pull in and out of this station add to the luminous glow and match the museum-like palette of color. The elegant arched entryways guide commuters as they travel home, to work and to another place in time.
