A 360‑degree reflective canopy and a lush underground garden welcome travellers to the Qasr AlHokm metro station
As one of four main hubs in the new metro system of the Saudi capital, connecting two of the main metro lines, the historic Al-Qiri district station is designed as an open urban and pedestrian plaza with a large stainless-steel canopy that acts as an urban periscope.
The station levels are visually linked through the mirror-like overhang structure 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.
Snøhetta developed the winning competition concept for the station in 2012. The 85 station metro system has a ridership capacity up to 3,6 million passengers per day and has been open to the public since January last year.
In addition to making low‑emission transport available to everyone, the new transit network links key districts and helps reduce traffic congestion in the rapidly growing city where approximately 97% of all trips are still made by private cars.
When you come off the train and look up, you see a 360-degree view of the city reflected on the underside of the canopy. So, you get an immediate picture of where you are in the city. Likewise, if you're coming from the city, you look up into the canopy, and it mirrors everything that happens below
Robert Greenwood, Snøhetta Partner and Project Lead
Mirroring the surroundings
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.
"When you come off the train and look up, you see a 360-degree view of the city reflected on the underside of the canopy. So, you get an immediate picture of where you are in the city. Likewise, if you're coming from the city, you look up into the canopy, and it mirrors everything that happens below," says Robert Greenwood, Snøhetta Partner and Project Lead.
Glass‑tube platforms opening into the atrium
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 glazed tubes that protrude into the atrium void space, allowing for a seamless integration between interior and exterior, and opening the platform areas to the grandness of the atrium for both arriving and departing passengers.
For travelers passing through, this striking sight highlights the importance of Riyadh’s historic downtown and symbolizes the connection between the city’s past and its contemporary transformation
Underground, tempered 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.
“The arrival of public transport in Riyadh represents a remarkable step forward. This station is designed as a place for all citizens, regardless of gender or social status, and promotes both environmental and social sustainability. The new plaza and garden further strengthen the public realm, providing valuable shared spaces for the nearby communities,” says Snøhetta's founding partner Kjetil Trædal Thorsen.
A public gateway in Riyadh's historic heart
Situated in the historic heart of Riyadh, close to the original palace and the old adobe buildings of the Al Daho district, the Qasr AlHokm station 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 a 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.
The arrival of public transport in Riyadh represents a remarkable step forward. This station is designed as a place for all citizens, regardless of gender or social status, and promotes both environmental and social sustainability. The new plaza and garden further strengthen the public realm, providing valuable shared spaces for the nearby communities
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Snøhetta's founding partner
Merging tradition 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.
Credit: Iwan Baan/Snøhetta
Download drawings hereCredit: Snøhetta
Read more about the project on our website:
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
CONTACT:
Ida Halvorsen Kemp