One of my favourite stations on the Paris metro is Arts et Metiers. In contrast to the more usual tiled interiors, this station is lined with copper, giving it the feel of a steampunk submarine. Rivets, portholes and giant wheels and gears enhance the effect; even details like the litter bins are carefully co-ordinated. The portholes contain carefully-crafted little scenes. Beware, though: it's easy to be so caught up in these details that you forget to take your train!It's not so surprising, then, that its Belgian designer François Schuiten is best known for his graphic novels in which Jules Verne frequently appears. The renovation was carried out in 1994, with the city transport authority working in partnership with the Musée des arts et métiers (Museum of Arts and Trades).
3 comments:
Gorgeous!!! This station should be in 'Glass Books of the Dream Eaters'.
Love that 'cyberpunk' phrase, Caroline!
It has been beautifully restored - I remember it being dark and dingy (although less depressing somehow than the tiled stations, so there must have been some residual gleam in the brass).
I wonder whether it has some kind of lacquer or does actually need regular polishing - that would be quite a job!
CMS, I hadn't come across 'Glass Books...' but it looks well worth reading, thank you!
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