Quantcast
Channel: MRT
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 238

Downtown Line's upscale look

$
0
0

Stage 1 of the new Downtown Line opened last month, connecting Chinatown MRT station to Bugis MRT station, with four other stations in between: Telok Ayer, Downtown, Bayfront and Promenade.

The current line spans 4.6km and will be the longest automated underground line in Singapore when stages 2 and 3 are completed in 2017.

Over the years, MRT stations have taken on a sleeker, more artful look and the current Downtown Line - a work in progress - is no exception. Each station on the line integrates artwork and architecture to create a distinct identity.

Those who take public transport on a daily basis and get caught in the crush of human traffic rarely get to see the quieter moments and enjoy their surroundings.

BUGIS

The station is about 26m below ground level, and is linked to the existing East-West Line and connected by subway links between North Bridge Road and Victoria Street. Diamond-shaped patterns are a main feature of the station. They are evident on the walls, ceilings and glass panels, reflecting the diamond motif found in Bugis culture.

PROMENADE

The vibrant artwork by artist Ana Prvacki, titled Earthcake, situated near a travelator. It is a colourful collection of local kueh, or cakes, and rocky soil presented in thin layers, and is part of the Land Transport Authority's Art In Transit programme, which was launched in 1997. Part of the evening crowd walking under a giant wave-like ceiling, which is unique to this station.

BAYFRONT

The station, consisting of three levels, is an integral point of transit for tourists visiting Marina Bay Sands and Gardens By The Bay. It also houses part of the Circle Line, which passengers can easily access on opposite sides of the Downtown Line platforms. In the gallery, a man's silhouette is reflected in a glass panel as he walks down a staircase.

CHINATOWN

Shophouses in Upper Cross Street form a colourful backdrop to the station. Its new exit, shaped like an ellipse, mirrors the adjacent Hong Lim Complex, which has an elliptical facade.

TELOK AYER

One of three pillars at the station resembling giant tree trunks. The pillars are part of artist Lim Shing Yee's artwork, titled Charm Of Bay. It was inspired by the name Telok Ayer, which means "bay water" in Malay.

DOWNTOWN

New-generation 70m-long trains that save energy - about 8,000kWh a year - ply the Downtown Line. Artist Jason Lim's mosaic piece, titled Leaves, depicts supple bamboo leaves. The artist uses the plant's structure as a visual metaphor for the network of businesses and financial services found in the Central Boulevard area, where the station is located.

Publication Date: 
Monday, Jan 20, 2014

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 238

Trending Articles