Zaha Hadid Architects has initiated construction work on a trio of new stations for the city of Dnipro in Ukraine - with passenger services expected to commence upon completion in 2025. Following the announcement of their partnership with Hyperloop Italia last year to reshape rapid transit in Italy, the London-based firm has expanded their operations into the realm of transportation design in designing the new Teatralna, Tsentralna, and Muzeina stations in Ukraine’s fourth largest city, to provide new avenues for connectivity between its urban centre and the residential, academic, commercial, and cultural hubs located within eastern districts. Featuring thin metallic entrance pavilions reminiscent of the framework of ribbed vaults, each of the new structures will be surrounded by a public plaza, to cement their presence as prominent landmarks and transport hubs within their respective neighbourhoods.

In designing these stations, the firm - headed by Patrik Schumacher - drew from Dnipro’s renown as a regional centre for manufacturing, engineering, and metallurgy, crafting undulating envelopes in welded steel for the entrance pavilions of the three stations. Channelling the firm’s proclivity towards sculptural, parametric architecture, these shell-like structures will feature fluid arches and ridged surfaces, realised in recycled steel harvested from local foundries. The arched façade designs will frame expansive glazed openings to create links between the station’s buzzing interior and public spaces situated outside. Banks of escalators will sweep users down from the entrance halls to the main concourses, from where most of the functional areas are readily accessible.

Each of the stations will have a uniquely-designed ticketing hall, while most other spaces - including the internal concourses, passageways, and platforms will exhibit a shared design language and a cohesive spatial logic to give the metro line a strong visual and architectural identity. To this end, the interior design conveys motion at every step - from rippling steel finishes celebrating Dnipro’s history of exquisite steel craftsmanship, to organic lighting design elements that will intuitively guide users to their destinations, as per the architects. In their view, this will aid in ensuring that passengers will enjoy safe, comfortable, and hassle-free movement all across the city.

Additionally, the stations will also link the eastern districts to the Dnipro-Holovnyi railway terminus and grant greater accessibility to parks, beaches, and recreational spots along the shores of the Dnipro River from the city centre. In doing so, the enhanced transport network created by the stations is also expected to support a reduction in traffic congestion on the city’s motorways. The introduction of these three new stations is an essential phase in an ongoing bid by the city of Dnipro to upgrade its public transport network. This is a particularly relevant concern in contemporary urban development models that prioritise sustainable design and high-quality public transport over the use of fossil fuel-powered personal vehicles in order to reduce carbon footprints.

Project Details

Name: Dnipro Metro Stations
Location: Dnipro, Ukraine
Client: Dnipro City Council
Status: Under Construction
Timeline: 2021-2025
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
Design: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Project Director: Manuela Gatto
ZHA Project Architect: Yevgeniya Pozigun
ZHA Project Team: Seungho Yeo, Tommaso Casucci, Mark Winnington, Elena Scripelliti, Federico Borello, Garin O’Aivazian, Veronica Erspamer, Branko Svarcer, Catherine McCann, Evgeniya Yatsyuk, Olga Yatsyuk, Jose Pareja Gomez, Jung Yeon Kwak, Li Jin, Nicolas Turchi, Shajay Bhooshan, Vishu Bhooshan, Aiste Dzikaraite, Veronika Ilinskaya, Houzhe Xu
Client: Dnipro City Council
Contractor: Limak Insaat Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S. [Turkey]
Structure: Schlaich Bergermann Partner SBP [Stuttgart]
Façade Engineering: Eckersley O'Callaghan EOC [London]
Architectural Lighting: Office for Visual Interaction Inc. [New York]