"Train stations are, by definition, liminal spaces-places people go through to get somewhere else-but sometimes, they're destinations in their own right. Last month, the Prix Versailles, a series of international architecture awards, unveiled a list of the "World's Most Beautiful Stations 2025," with selections spanning China to Australia. One of the determining factors is "intelligent sustainability," where "culture serves and transcends the notion of the environment," according to the committee's press release."
"You can see such design elements in Belgium's Mons Station, for instance, which is part of an urban reorganization project to make the city more pedestrian friendly, or Saudi Arabia's Qasr Al Hokm, whose walls are covered in greenery. So next time you find yourself on a worldly adventure, make sure to plan a stop at any one of these seven renowned stations and soak up the oft-overlooked beauty of mobility."
Train stations can function as destinations, not merely transit points. The Prix Versailles selected seven stations worldwide as the World's Most Beautiful Stations 2025, with entries from China to Australia. Selection criteria emphasize intelligent sustainability, where culture complements and transcends environmental concerns. Design elements include urban reorganization to prioritize pedestrians, as seen at Mons Station in Belgium, and living walls of greenery, as at Saudi Arabia's Qasr Al Hokm. The selections exemplify how transit architecture can improve urban mobility, civic life, and aesthetic experience, encouraging travelers to visit stations as purposeful architectural destinations.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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