Washington’s Metro has won the American Institute of
Architects 25-Year Award (story here).
The AIA jury’s comments state that the “striking design of
the prototypical Washington Metro station revolutionized public perceptions of
mass transit” and that “station designs have held up remarkably well.” The stations are “airy and spacious”
and “have become icons of Washington architecture.” Agreed!
I had the opportunity many years ago to walk the first tunnels
and stations of the Metro before it opened. I was impressed then and I’m impressed now at the beauty of
the stations and how well they have held up.
I’m not in complete agreement with all of the comments of
the AIA editor, however. I agree that
“the Washington Metro gives monumental civic space to the humble task of public
transit, gravitas fit for the nation’s capital.” But I’m not entirely comfortable with the comments about Metro
representing “mid-century modernist manner.” I’m no architectural historian, but for me, when I see a
large space dominated by a concrete, coffered, barrel-vaulted ceiling I think
Roman architecture! I think
Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, not LeCorbusier. Appropriate for a great republic
(although, yes, I know, that building was really post-republic)!
At any rate, Metro is a great asset for our nation’s
capital.
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