Designer: Fosters+Partners
A 450 kilometer-long (280-mile) rail link connecting Saudi Arabia‘s major cities Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and King Abdullah Economic City has been completed by Foster and Partners who designed the four stations.
Inspired by the ancient architectural traditions of the region, the stations that comprise the Haramain high-speed railway provide a shaded retreat from the sun while creating a new infrastructural spine for the country.
The stations were built by using a modular approach, as Foster and Partners adopted consistent design elements throughout the four stations. The modular system means that each station could be designed to fit its site and that in the future the grid can be extended to increase capacity. The steel columns and arches form freestanding structural trees that are repeated on a square grid and connect to form a flexible vaulted roof — a gesture that references the colonnades found in much of the region’s traditional architecture. the vaults in each station are of a different color, responding to the identity of the different cities.
As the stations must serve up to 20,000 passengers per hour, the arrangement of spaces follows the direction of travel and helps passengers navigate the stations intuitively, they are essentially designed to offer a unified appearance to between 60 million and 135 million passengers anticipated to use the high-speed line each year. With trains running at a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186mph) it will take 2 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Makkah and Madinah. operations will begin with 35 trains that can carry up to 417 passengers each. All of the stations have been designed so that they maintain low ambient temperatures without the need for using mechanical cooling. Large fans and misting devices have also been installed on the platforms to keep this area cool. The vaulted roof and walls contain small openings that draw beams of daylight down to the concourse level, carefully controlling the intense glare from the sun and creating a calm, atmospheric and well-lit environment that can provide a respite from the country’s heat.
As the design and construction of the stations were carried out independently from the civil works and track installation, the stations were designed, and workflows planned, to allow civil works to continue in parallel. in addition to operational and structural flexibility, the stations also offer seamless connections to other intracity transport networks, particularly as Foster and Partners also designing the Jeddah metro system, which will connect to the high-speed station in the city.
Source: Arch20
The way we design spaces that people inhabit goes beyond mere functionality. It requires an intentional sensitivity to how each detail shapes the overall experience and interaction with the surrounding ecological context. Nestled in the suburban periphery of Nashik, the project occupies a 3700 sq. ft. plot located at the dead-end of a street, adjacent […]
Kerala style homes have courtyards surrounded by rooms on each side. Traditional Kerala-style homes have a central courtyard known as Nadumuttam surrounded by rooms. These homes promote natural light and ventilation according to the region’s climate. These homes, due to the feature of courtyards as their core spaces, offer beautiful opportunities for social gatherings. This […]
In a time when design is often reduced to trends, Yaahvi’s light design stands as a reminder of tactility, tradition, and craftsmanship. Founded by Nikita Bansal, who journeyed from Assam to the global design stage, champions a philosophy where contemporary aesthetics meet age-old Indian craftsmanship. In this exclusive interview, Nikita reflects on her early influences, […]
India, a nation bustling with innovation and a constant drive for progress, is increasingly embracing an unconventional yet incredibly promising architectural trend: container architecture. We are witnessing a fascinating transformation, as discarded shipping containers, once traversing the high seas laden with goods, now find new life as dynamic, sustainable, and surprisingly sophisticated living and working […]
This bungalow style house influences the site context and can be visualised in multiple facades of sharp edges & cuboidal form. Her,e salient features like U-Projection are an expression of the bench on a level one. The house divides itself into three bays. On the ground floor, where first bay acquire all public activities like […]
Imagine yourself on the terrace of your hidden mountain retreat, drinking a fresh cup of coffee as you admire the sunrise emerging from behind the rolling hills across the valley. This serene atmosphere is exactly what Hello Wood’s latest project, the Console House, is designed to offer. The Console House showcases modern architecture design while […]
As cities continue to grow and evolve, there is a growing desire to incorporate elements of rural living into urban design. By embracing rural living principles, cities can create more eco-friendly and sustainable spaces. Rural living is not just about wide-open spaces and rolling hills. It’s also about community, sustainability, and a connection to nature. […]
Located in the thriving city of Ichalkaranji, this is an example of luxury residences is a seamless blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication. The striking exterior, adorned with brick and natural stone cladding, exudes warmth, character, and permanence. These rich textures create a visually captivating façade, harmonizing tradition with contemporary design while making a […]
Throughout history, stone has embodied permanence, artistry, and raw beauty in architecture. From the grandeur of Roman amphitheaters to the earthy elegance of modern villas, stone remains a beloved material for its strength, sustainability, and aesthetic richness. As design trends evolve toward natural materials, eco-conscious decisions, and biophilic design, stone has found new expressions — […]
The space adopts a biophilic office design and climate-responsive approach, creating a workspace that reimagines urban interiors by deeply embedding them with nature. The style is earthy, minimal, and modern with a strong contextual sensitivity to its location. Also, a lush canopy surrounds the bare-shell site on the first floor, allowing for abundant daylight and […]