Zaha Hadid Architects’ King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station draws inspiration from the patterns of desert winds shaping sand dunes and traditional Islamic architecture, particularly the mashrabiya screens

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), serves as the key 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.
The station’s six rail platforms over four levels connect with bus and park-and-ride services to create an important multi-modal transport hub for the city, as well as new indoor and outdoor public plazas for the financial district.
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 modeled, mapped, and structured to optimize internal circulation and avoid congestion.
The station’s design draws inspiration from the patterns of desert winds shaping sand dunes and traditional Islamic architecture.
This is evident in its self-supporting lattice shell, which not only provides structural integrity but also allows natural light to filter into the interior, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Spanning approximately 20,434 square meters, the KAFD Metro Station is a seven-story structure that accommodates six metro tracks.
Its strategic location amidst a network of pathways, skybridges, and metro lines facilitates seamless connectivity within the financial district and to other parts of Riyadh.
The KAFD Metro Station stands as a testament to Riyadh’s commitment to modernizing its urban landscape and reducing reliance on automobiles.
Its innovative design and strategic functionality not only serve the immediate needs of commuters but also contribute to the city’s long-term vision of sustainable urban development.
Project: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Lead Architect: Patrik Schumacher
Design Team: Team: Marco Amoroso, Vincenzo Caputo, Abdel Halim Chehab, Lee Cubeddu, Rawan Al-Derjem, Domenico Di Francesco, David Fogliano, Manuele Gaioni, Marko Gligorov, Subharthi Guha, Alexandros Kallegias, Lisa Kinnerud, Alexandre Kuroda, Stefano Iacopini, Carolina López-Blanco, Jamie Mann, Mohammadali Mirzaei, Arian Hakimi Nejad, David Wolthers, Nicola McConnell, Mario Mattia, Massimo Napoleoni, Niki Okala, Carlos Parraga- Botero, Sohith Perera, Izis Salvador Pinto, Carine Posner, Neil Rigden, and Paola Salcedo
Contractor: BACS Consortium
Photographs: Hufton + Crow
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