Art and architecture on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)

The initial stations on the first MRT lines in Singapore have simple designs, with more focus on engineering and safety using simple aesthetics. One main concern back then (and still is) has been crowd movement. The size of the station platforms and the width and height of the entrances have been carefully conceptualised to ensure enhanced passenger movement in the network. Nevertheless, some of these stations have artworks reflecting the area they serve, and key features were employed for the underground stations in the Central Business District (CBD). One example is the distinctive dome above Orchard station, which is featured as the "showpiece" for the MRT network. Each station also has a colour scheme which distinguishes them from one another. In the later Phase II of the network, the roofs of the elevated stations have distinct designs which reflect Singapore's heritage and the surroundings, proposed by architect Scott Danielson. The Lakeside and Chinese Garden stations have curved Chinese roofs similar to the structures in Chinese Garden, while Eunos station has a Malay-style roof to reflect the locality of Geylang Serai, a Malay enclave. The roof of Jurong East station, meanwhile, is similar in design to the adjacent Jurong East Bus Interchange: a space frame roof made up of cylindrical steel tubes with ball joints arranged in a geometric style. In 2025, the LTA announced that 40 older stations on the North–South and East–West lines will gain public artworks, as part of expansion of the Art in Transit programme. Changi Airport branch (2001) The elevated Expo station is designed by British architectural firm Foster and Partners. The station features two roofs overlapping one another — a stainless-steel roof over the concourse and ticket level in diameter, and a long titanium roof stretching over the platform level. The former reflects sunlight into the concourse which minimises the need for artificial lighting, while the latter deflects sun rays, which cools the platform by up to four degrees less than its surroundings. These materials for the roof were adapted to fit into warm tropical Singaporean climate. The spacious interior of the station allows natural lighting and ventilation. The station is designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, featuring a large interior space and an illuminated linkbridge spanning over the island platform, connecting Terminals 2 and 3 with travellators. Australian engineering company Meinhardt Facades also provided structural design engineering of the glazing system and the tensioned cable structure of the two atria (approximately long by wide by high each) located at both ends of the station box adjacent to Terminal 2 and 3 of Changi Airport, with engineering input by Ove Arup and Partners. In 2011, the station was rated 10 out of 15 most beautiful subway stops in the world by BootsnAll. At a height of , the three-level station has an arched metal roof supported by stainless steel columns to give a more spacious interior. The station concourse level was clad in floor-to-ceiling glass panels. The design has a nautical theme; thus, the station is shaped like a ship when viewed from the outside. This design was inspired by Sembawang's historical role as a British naval base. The station’s roof is modeled after wind blades to convey the speed of Singapore's public transportation. The sides of the station were constructed using glass rather than concrete to allow natural light to enter. Louvers were installed to provide ventilation. For the construction team's efforts to integrate landscaping and the use of eco-friendly materials, the station was awarded a Platinum certification under the Building and Construction Authority's new Green Mark scheme for transit stations. Canberra station is the first MRT station to attain such a rating. ==North East Line==

Each of the 16 NEL stations has a unique design which reflects its location. The HarbourFront station has a maritime theme, with an elliptical ship's-hull motif used for the ceiling and concourse entrances to the platforms. At Little India, the station walls' metal grills have leaf-shaped patterns similar to the door patterns of Hindu prayer rooms. Unlike at the other NEL stations, the entrances to Buangkok do not use glass; white Teflon sheets are supported by metal frames. and the five-level station is integrated with the twin-towered office complex Atrium@Orchard above it. The network's first such integration of an MRT station with a commercial development, it permits more efficient land use and improves access to public transport. The station's NEL platforms, underground, are some of the MRT's deepest. The four-level Sengkang station is an integrated hub, with Singapore's three public-transport modes – MRT, LRT and bus – serving the Sengkang area. The MRT/LRT station was the MRT network's first intermodal station for all three transport modes. Designed by the 3HPArchitects and Farrells architectural firms, the Punggol station is integrated with the LRT station and the bus interchange. Its curved aluminium and stainless-steel cladding gives the station a futuristic look befitting the Punggol 21 developments. Covering along Punggol Central to accommodate bus stops, taxi stands and passenger drop-off points along the road, the station is the NEL's longest. ==Circle Line==

Bras Basah station (2010) Bras Basah station is one of two stations commissioned through the Marina line Architectural Design Competition jointly organised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA). Designed by WOHA, the station design resolves two conflicting conditions needed for the station: allowing a visual connection to the exterior to enhance the travel experience for the commuters, and enabling the station to blend into the landscape in the historic district and park location. A reflection pool, which also acts as the station roof, allows skylight to enter the station, and functions as a landscape element on the surface. With skylight entering the station, minimal artificial light is required for the station during the day. The natural light improves way-finding and safety for the commuters. The ventilation shafts of the station blends into the landscape, avoiding obstruction of the view across the site to the surrounding civic buildings. At the 2001 SIA Awards, the SIA awarded LTA the prize for ‘Excellence in Architectural Design Competitions’. The station later won the Award for International Architecture at the AIA's (American Institute of Architects) 2010 National Architecture Awards. Stadium station (2010) Stadium station was designed by an architectural team from WOHA, an architectural firm, led by Wang Mun Summ and Richard Hassell. The station was another station to be commissioned through the Marina Line Architectural Design Competition jointly organized by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) in 2000. The station was designed to handle large passenger numbers during major events, featuring an open-air concourse and plaza space to accommodate the crowds and prevent overcrowding within the station. nominated by Patrick Bingham-Hall, an architectural photographer. Bingham-Hall, the nominator, praised the station as a 'brilliantly intuitive piece of architecture (which) defy imitation', while the jurors of the award commented that the station design was 'appropriate' to reflect the importance of the new Sports Hub the station serves. the Award for International Architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects and the 2010 International Architecture Award by the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. It was also one of the finalists for the 2008 World Architecture Festival. Marina Bay station (2012) The Circle Line station was designed by Aedas, Quarry Bay & Aedas Pte Ltd (Station Architect). Visibility, integration and efficiency were the focal points when designing the CCL part of the station, as the station entrances need to integrate into the park where the station is located. The design also has provisions for a future underground pedestrian network (converted from a temporary maintenance facility near the station) and connections to future developments. The translucent canopy acts as a skylight to allow natural light into the underground hall. The large entrance also allows large amounts of natural light to enter the station. To limit the visual impact of the station to the surrounding park landscape, only the lift, escalators, the lightweight ETFE canopy and the reflective pool are visible from street level, giving users a full view of the park from the station entrance. The reflective pool also provides a smooth transition between the exits and the park. The station design was the winner of the Small Project Award at the World Architecture Festival in 2012. the 2013 UIPT Asia-Pacific Grow with Public Transport Award and honourable mention for the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards 2012. ==Downtown Line==

Little India station (2015) The DTL station was designed by Architects61, which adopted a flowing fabric theme reminiscent of the Indian sari to reflect the vicinity's heritage. Fort Canning station (2017) To reflect its location near the Fort Canning Park, the station has a natural green theme with an arched ceiling over the station's interior. As a tribute to the former National Theatre that once stood near the station site, abstract patterns of the theatre are featured on the concourse stone walls and railings. Bencoolen station (2017) The six-level underground station reaches below ground and is the deepest station on the MRT network. The station and the tunnels are placed at that depth to avoid the existing infrastructure at the surface, as well as the other rail tunnels in the way of the alignment. The station was constructed in tandem with NAFA's fourth campus. The integration allows students to access the campus easily regardless of the weather conditions. The glass and frame structure of Exit B is designed in vintage style to "harmonise" with the colonial-style exterior of Hotel Rendezvous near the station. Two of the four lanes had been permanently closed to make way for a community space, which includes a wide footpath for pedestrians and a dedicated bicycle lane. The transformation was part of Singapore's government Walk-Cycle-Ride initiative, which was aimed to make the country "car-lite" and allow more opportunities to walk and cycle. One of the remaining lanes on the street was converted into a dedicated bus lane to facilitate efficient bus services. The area is designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with sheltered linkways from the station to the surrounding developments. ==Artworks==

Art-in-Transit The Art-in-Transit (AiT) programme is a commissioned public arts program directed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the Singapore MRT network. The artworks commissioned were integrated as part of the stations' designs. Considered a "significant milestone" for public art in Singapore, the artwork project aims to enhance the commuters' experience when travelling. and the TEL. Artwork list == Other features ==

Wayfinding The initial MRT system used colours which indicated the direction of trains. Hence, the North–South Line had red for southbound trains and yellow for northbound trains, and the East–West Line had green for eastbound and blue for westbound. The North East Line would have used light purple for Punggol-bound trains and red for Harbourfront-bound trains. The station numbering code for the NSEWL was initially based on their distance from the two "central" stations of City Hall (C1) and Raffles Place (C2). In 2001, the LTA introduced a new signage system that assigns a single color to each MRT and LRT line instead. Alongside this, a new alphanumeric station code system was implemented, consisting of two letters representing the line and a number identifying the station. The numbering generally follows a sequential order from east to west and north to south. Additionally, each terminus of an MRT line is assigned a destination number to help commuters determine the direction of travel. This signage system was designed by Lloyd Northover. Safety Barrier-free access ==References==