Karlsruhe, Germany

Developed together with designer Ingo Maurer, Light Rail Tunnel Karlsruhe by Manfred Sauer and the team from allmannwappner is a cohesive design for the underground railway stations of Karlsruhe, Germany, lending a new sense of character.

Like a common thread winding its way below ground, the architects’ new uniform design ties together the seven light rail stations in downtown Karlsruhe relocated underground.

The design is understated, giving a certain potency and poetry to the spaces and providing a contrast to the visual and auditory overload of the busy pedestrian area overhead.

The cubature of the station interior is largely determined by the form of the respective civil engineering structures and the specific urban location.

This gives each station a distinct character and high recognition value, which allude to the exterior location.

By practicing restraint in the formal design of the spaces, the design underscores the symbolic character of each station structure.

The concept defines two categories of space, each governed by its own design principles.

In the transfer zone with stairways and mezzanine floors, the design leaves the underlying structure exposed and without cladding.

The waiting area at the platform level exudes a calming, almost meditative character with its uniform color scheme and bright surfaces.

The use of the same material on the ceilings, walls, and floors reduces visual noise and places the focus on the essential elements: trains, signs, and symbols.

The lighting design for the new light rail tunnel was developed in collaboration with designer Ingo Maurer.

Project: Light Rail Tunnel Karlsruhe
Architects: allmannwappner
Team Leader: Manfred Sauer
Project Team: Christian von Arenstorff, Julia Behm, Katrin Bell, Christian Boland, and Frank Karlheim
Lighting Designer: Ingo Maurer
Structural Designers: Obermeyer Planen + Beraten GmbH
Client: City of Karlsruhe
Photographer: Brigida Gonzalez