Qasr AlHokm Metro Station | Snøhetta

The Qasr Al Hokm Metro Station in Riyadh is connecting two of the main lines in the Saudi capital’s brand-new metro network. In addition to making low-emission transport available to everyone, it links key districts and helps reduce traffic congestion in the rapidly growing city.

The station is designed as an open pedestrian plaza with a large stainless-steel canopy. The station levels are visually linked through the mirror-like overhang structure - like a periscope - reflecting the outside inwards and the inside outward, while also directing natural light into the underground station and providing shade to the surrounding public areas.

Historical & cultural context

Situated in the historic heart of Riyadh, close to the original palace and the old adobe buildings, the site lies next to an important Eid prayer field, dimensioned to accommodate the movement of many thousands of people gathering and dispersing during the annual event.

The plaza area has a smooth terrazzo surface that extends to the edges of the site, clearly designating it as an open civic realm. This generous public space creates a unified surface dedicated to the public functions of the metro station and the new mosque, which was reconstructed as part of the project to accommodate significant changes to the site’s structural layout.

The illuminated drainage channels aligned with Makkah allows the space to function as an outdoor extension of the mosque, seamlessly blending interior and exterior.

A point of orientation

The steel canopy serves as the focal point and marks the main entrance to the station. Its shiny outer surface is made from 8 mm double curved stainless-steel panels that are fully welded together and polished to create a smooth, seamless appearance.

The supporting steel spaceframe – a strong, lightweight steel structure with adjustable tie rods for the connection to the stainless skin – allows the canopy to extend above and beyond its base: a massive cone wall. Beneath ground level, the sloping interior walls are finished with a rendered surface inspired by the area’s traditional architecture.

Acting as both a unifying architectural element and a point of orientation within the building, the steel canopy also reflects indirect sunlight downward from its mirrorlike surface. PV panels for energy production are mounted on the upper side of the canopy roof.

Connecting lines

The two metro lines traverse the open space within transparent tubes, creating a striking visual presence and enhancing wayfinding throughout the station.

The platforms are each encapsulated within large glass tubes protruding into the atrium void space - allowing for a seamless integration between interior and exterior, and opening the platform space up to the grandness of the atrium for both arriving and departing passengers.

For passengers merely passing through on the train, the sight signifies the importance of the Riyadh historic downtown and the link between history and the new.

Underground garden

At the base of the atrium, an accessible, tempered garden has been established. The garden can be accessed from the two lines and the transfer level, allowing passengers to relax in a shaded, green space while waiting for their train.

Located at around 35 meters below city level, the garden maintains a temperate environment even during the hot summer periods. Water for irrigation is collected from the paved plaza areas and canopy above.

Merging traditions and new media art

With respect for the station’s historic setting, the inner atrium walls are adorned with a windowcut pattern inspired by traditional Najdi motifs, echoing the architectural character of the surrounding neighborhoods. Designed to create subtle glimpses between the different sections of the station, the patterned openings – formed by 326 triangular carvings in three different sizes – also filter light gently into the atrium.

Outside of the concrete cone, a liner wall is decorated with a continuous media art installation more than 100 metres long, designed for light and artistic displays. Composed of 879 panels – a mix of acoustic, lighting, and video units – the media art wall functions both as a standalone design feature and as a dynamic backdrop.

The shifting movement of light across the media wall helps users understand the scale and proportions of the main circulation space, supporting both orientation and the overall wayfinding strategy. While its content will vary, the media art wall has been developed to maintain a smooth, calm visual expression, offering a deliberate contrast to the high speed of the trains and the flow of people moving toward them.

FACTS

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Size, station: 20.000 sqm, 8 underground levels

Size, plaza including mosque: 20.000 sqm

Scope: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Art

Typology: Public space, infrastructure

Status: Completed

Timeline: 2012-2025

Client: Royal Commission Riyadh City (RCRC)

Certification: Green Building Rating System: LEED 2009 Gold Certification

Executing Consortium: ArRiyadh New Mobility (ANM)

The station design is based on a competition winning concept by Snøhetta, who undertook the detail design in collaboration with Cremonesi Workshop (Crew) and One Works.

Concept design, original competition collaboration with:

Structure: Akt

Services: Hilson Moran

Estimates: David Adamson

Lighting consultants: dpa lighting consultants Dpa