The Riyadh Metro network, set to commence passenger operations on Sunday, December 1st 2024, with the opening of its Blue, Yellow and Purple lines (Lines 1, 4 and 6), will alleviate traffic congestion, shorten travel times and improve the quality of life for Riyadh's growing population. As the world's most extended driverless transit system, the transformative network spans over 176 kilometres across six lines and 85 stations, connecting key districts, business centres, and cultural landmarks in Saudi Arabia's capital city.
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An automated rapid transport system planned by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), Riyadh Metro, will meet the needs of residents and visitors alike. With a capacity of 3.6 million daily passengers, the network will reduce the number of car journeys throughout the city and encourage sustainable modes of transport.
The King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station (KAFD) Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), serves as the critical interchange on the new network, connecting the KAFD terminus, King Khalid International Airport, and providing access to the sky bridge for the local KAFD monorail.
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The station's six rail platforms over four levels connect with bus and park-and-ride services to create an essential multi-modal transport hub for the city and new indoor and outdoor public plazas for the financial district.
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Contributing to the identity of Riyadh's new metro system, the KAFD Metro Station's design prioritizes connectivity. The station's predicted rail, car and pedestrian traffic has been modelled, mapped and structured to optimize internal circulation and avoid congestion. The resulting configuration is a three-dimensional lattice defined by a sequence of opposing sinewaves (generated from the repetition and frequency variation of the station's daily traffic flows), which act as the spine for the building's circulation.
These sinewaves extend to the station's exterior, clad in ultra-high-performance concrete panels.
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The façade's geometric perforations reduce the solar gain as a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional environmental sheltering within the region's vernacular architecture. The composition of the station's façade echoes the patterns generated by desert winds in the sand, where multiple frequencies and reverberation generate the complex repetition of patterns evident in the natural world.
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The KAFD Metro Station is composed of a set of elements that are highly correlated through repetition, symmetry and scale. ZHA continually optimized the design throughout its development to increase structural efficiencies and environmental performance while simplifying the construction process without compromising spatial quality. It seamlessly integrates the self-supporting structure of its external envelope with the station's internal structure, which supports the train platforms and viaducts.
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The station combines compelling passive design features with a high-efficiency cooling system powered by renewables, providing optimal comfort at minimum energy demand. It automatically adjusts to differing passenger levels throughout the day while sliding door panels on each platform retain cool air within the station. The KAFD Metro Station has achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.
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Press Release
Cover image: Ph © Hufton+Crow
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