The Dubai Metro project was to be the world’s largest and most advanced automated passenger transit project in the world, 74 km long, 45 stations, nine of them underground plus two depots and operational control centres. The Dubai Metro has two lines. The Red line extends from Dubai airport, across Dubai Creek, past the financial centre of the city and down to Dubai Marina. The shorter Green line, which is largely underground, serves the older Bur Dubai District along Dubai Creek opposite the Dhow Harbour.
Each of the stations is based on two levels: the platforms on one, the ticket office concourse and retail franchises on the other with the level containing rail track and platforms typically above the ticket barrier level according to whether the lines are elevated, on the Red Line the most frequently occurring configuration. But the arrangement can vary for ground level and underground stations.
In its search for form references, the team pondered the history and traditions of old Dubai and its heritage as a pearling village. The team attached to the idea of the rough outer surface of pearl shells and how different and smooth were the shell’s interiors. The end solution was a cone-like shape from which the double ended armadillo-like shell was developed.
