Cityringen is a 16 km metro, forming a circle line around the historic centre of Copenhagen.

Arup’s architects worked as part of a multi-disciplinary design team, in joint venture with Cowi and Systra, to deliver the MCW package they then proceeded to deliver detailed architectural finishes for all 17 stations on the metro. The team worked closely with engineers and many Arup specialist disciplines such as fire and life safety, lighting, safety, tunnel ventilation, pedestrian modelling, construction planning, cost estimating and modelling techniques.

The design aims to add value to the city, lending rhythm and poetry to the urban landscape, whilst continuing and developing the designs used for the existing phases of the metro. This new metro will be connected to existing stations at Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg by transfer tunnels.

The stations at Cityringen are located in different urban surroundings and the station areas need to address a diverse range of city spaces from busy traffic junctions to calm parks and historic urban settings. The station areas and architectural treatment of the station elements at ground level reflect this diversity with visual variations and different cladding materials selected to relate to the local area.

The journey and the identity of Cityringen starts at street level. The experience of daylight in the stations is an important feature that will be used to enhance the architectural quality of the stations. Natural light is optimised through the selection of materials with different reflective properties and attention to geometry and detail.

The design is characterised by a simple, unpretentious and functional style. Resulting in a harmonious and restrained aesthetic, this minimalist design approach extends beyond the stations’ architecture to encompass the whole underground railway experience: from the surrounding city landscape to the details of station fittings and finishes. By applying this coherent design language to every detail of the transport environment the new metro line will integrate seamlessly into the fabric of Copenhagen.