STATION ENTRANCES

WHAT ARE STATION ENTRANCES?

Hans Schleger reimagined Edward Johnston’s London underground logo is the quintessential station signage that landmarks transit entrances

The Bilbao metro entrance by Norman Foster

This iconic, organic shelter is also a wonderful urban sculpture.

Paris Métro entrances by Hector Guimard

This iconic, art decor shelter, works very well as an station landmark & architecturally emancipating, however has a strong time based signature.

Logos of Metro stations.
They are more than corporate graphical identity, but integrated with a totem creates a location anchor

For underground stations, entrances becomes a poster boy for stations and transit systems, and rightly so. In the hustle and the bustle of urban chaos, they can stand out as an important wayfinding for lost passengers. Whist it is not necessary difficult to have a entrance typology that screems 'Station', more often than not, the functional aspect become more important, and minimum is desired. Entrances for the Bilbao metro (Above) by Foster, or the Art Decor entrance for the Paris Metro by Hector Guimard, makes a very good statement that would be wonderful to emulate.

Metro system logo themselves are also an important sign as station entry point and its way-finding. many stations have simple entry points with their logos on totem poles, etc. as a landmark feature, Examples are NYC entrances, London Underground, photo top left.

Looking at the station logos on the top right, it then becomes apparent how many of these logo's are successful and how many of them can be challenging to remember. Some observation:

The letter 'M' is universal and can make easy wayfinding signage
Most of the system uses the colour red, which seems to offer a more attractive and distinct visual placement than most of the other colour
Graphical symbol that are also simple and clear, London LuL, HK/Singapore metro, Arrows, makes easy reference and remembrance for visitors, etc.

Hence a very distinct logo, both bright in its colour and lit at night, can work as a focus of your wayfinding and locating spaces around the city. This logo is required to be atop a totem, as a landmarks visible from a distance.

Hong Kong MTR Logo on the right, by DRU

Covent Garden Station Ticket Hall

Entrance / Ticket Hall

Many systems around the world will also have an entrance, that also functions as a ticket hall, as in the LUL Covent Garden station on the left, etc.

These are designed (Sometimes) when station platforms are engineered as platform tunnel due to challenging ground conditions, when Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM),etc. are used, and remote hub concourse with ticketing facilities are located at grade as entrances, or Hub concourse underground with ticket facilities and entrances connected to it.

ENTRANCE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Dimensions: The width of entrances is determined by the space needed to house vertical transportation elements like lift, stairs, and escalators. These requirements are influenced by building codes (stairs are often mandatory) and specific operator needs. Escalators are often preferred due to their capacity and ability to handle vertical heights. However, limited space, especially in urban areas, might not accommodate the width and length required for escalators, which can take up over 15 meters of ground length. Integrating stairs, escalators, and elevators within one entrance can be challenge due to these space constraints.

Accessibility: Providing elevators in station entrances is increasingly crucial to create an inclusive society where everyone has barrier-free access.

Flood Protection: For underground stations, flood mitigation is a major concern. Entrances need to be designed to withstand both localised flooding and for major events like 100-year floods. This often involves raising entrances above ground level, incorporating flood barriers, and ensuring structures can handle the water pressure. With the rise of severe weather events due to climate change, coupled with increased urban impervious surfaces, localised flooding is becoming more common. Design standards need to adapt to address this growing risk.

Impact Protection: Entrances located near streets may require protection from vehicle impacts. This can be achieved through bollards or sturdy impact walls.

Weather Protection: In tropical & other cities, station entrances often act as shelters from harsh weather. This necessitates designing entrances with larger holding areas at street level. Passengers exiting escalators can create congestion, so ample space is needed for people to disperse safely, preventing accidents near the escalators, etc. Further roof will also ensure that water is not splattered on the entrances steps, so that passengers slipping and falling will not take place. It is also important to highlight the importance for material specification for flooring, or for that matter all other parts of the transit stations. Specification will be looked at in future sections.

How many entrances do you need?

As many EFFECIENT entrances as possible. This means extending passages to take entrances to the patronage areas.
At least two. Where one is available if the other is on fire, or unavailable for evacuation, during emergency. Or One, but other escape path such as stairs.
System wide design: Many systems will have at least 4 as standards, on the 4 cardinal directions. Say Bangkok underground lines. It may be better to be less prescriptive?

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse