Concept
An oval glass roof over the Cour de Rome station entrance invites daylight into the very depths of the station. This tube of light links all the vertical passages and forms a backbone between the various levels, making it easier for travellers to find their way around.
This unique “lens” shaped underground station entrance fits perfectly with the approach initiated by Hector Guimard to clearly identify underground station entrances, conferring a strong identity and helping to redefine the public area of the station. The “lens”, highly complex in terms of its geometry and the technical challenges involved in its production, is a strong, contemporary design, remarkable in its apparent simplicity and discretion.
Program
The RATP Saint-Lazare de Météor station was built for the new Paris underground line. The design challenge of this station (principally an SNCF station) was to clarify the travel area of this complex node, which is a crossing point for four underground lines and the connecting overland SNCF train line.
The main underground station entrance is also equipped with an innovative sloping lift for disabled access.
Team
Project owner
– Project owner: RATP
Prime contractor
– Prime contractor: Arte Charpentier Architectes
Technical design
– Signage: Annie Thévenin
– Acoustics: Diasonic
– Lighting: Philippe Almon
– Economist: Cabinet Ripeau
– Lens engineers: RFR – Mitsou.Edwards
– Locks: YRM Anthony Hunt Paris
– Mock-up: Immo-maquette
– Computerised imaging: Umlaüt – Christophe Valtin
– Technical inspector: VERITAS
– Contractors (excl. lens): Bouygues, Chantier Moderne, Quillery, Perforex
– Lens contractors: VMT Transparence with Arcora BET consultant
Project specifics
– Award: “silver équerre” nomination 2006
– Project address: Cour de Rome
– Post code: 75009
– City: Paris
– Delivery: January 2003
– Project programme: design of a new station for the Météor underground line
