Architecture and furnishings

From the beginning of the project special attention was paid to the design and architecture of the stations. This meant that aesthetic considerations should also incorporate aspects such as functionality, commuter convenience and well-being.

Sir Norman Foster and his team were commissioned to design and plan the underground stations on the Bilbao Metro network. The underlying synthesis of architecture and engineering in the construction of the Bilbao metro is what is so appealing and characteristic.
The Project was awarded, in 1988, the Brunel Award for Railway Architecture for the Metro as a whole and for Sarriko station in particular.

Three aspects are clearly discernable in Foster's work:

• Originality.
• Cause the greatest level of attraction using materials with moderation.
• The integration of architecture and engineering.

The great challenges of Metro Bilbao were to achieve the following:

• The stations had to be located as near the surface as possible, so that access from the street to the platforms could be easy and direct.
• Spaciousness.
• Extended visibility had to be achieved.
• Light had to enter naturally.

The architecture of the Metro stations is the result of three concepts:

• Simplicity.
• Functionality.
• Aesthetics.

Following these basic concepts, Foster's design of the stations is based on:

The interior:

The treatment of the station cavern. This is a spacious cavern with a cross-section measuring 160m. where track bays, platforms and mezzanines are located.

The access areas:

The mezzanines are the main concourses linked to all installations and services, where ticket dispensers and offices are also located. Stations offer an extraordinary feeling of spaciousness where commuters do not feel trapped and can avail of all services close at hand.

The exterior:

What emerges into the city. This is street architecture, the main feature of which are the steel and glass shelters.

One of the greatest contributions of Metro Bilbao architecture is the achievement of an architectural blend which can be seen in the attainment of three objectives:

• High aesthetic level of installations.
• Maximum comfort for passengers.
• Simple and non-aggressive blending with urban architecture.

Furnishings :

In November, 2000, the manufacturer of the metro benches (Akaba, based in Irún), was awarded the National Industrial Design Award by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.