«Avtovo», St. Petersburg
«Avtovo» is justifiably considered one of the most picturesque stations in the cultural capital. Because of its beauty, this metro station has even made it into global rankings. «Avtovo» was created in the style of neoclassical architecture. By the architects' design, the station was meant to resemble an underground palace. The hall is supported by 46 concrete columns. Of these, 16 are faced with cast glass bearing a relief ornament, and the remaining 30 with marble. The main theme of the station's design was the heroic siege of Leningrad, which is why some details of «Avtovo» are decorated with military symbols.
«Obvodny Kanal», St. Petersburg
Even during construction, the «Obvodny Kanal» metro station promised to become one of the most beautiful and unusual among the stations of the St. Petersburg metro. The station's walls are faced with Italian marble. The walls of the platforms are also decorated with glass-ceramic panels depicting the Obvodny Canal at the end of the 19th century.
On one side the right bank of the canal is depicted, and on the other – the left. What is also interesting is that the vault and the decorative arches of «Obvodny Kanal» are reflected in the polished stone floor and create an optical illusion. So, passengers feel as though there is a pipe in front of them, half filled with water.
«Komsomolskaya», Moscow
This station is the connecting link between three railway terminals, which is why, by the architect's design, «Komsomolskaya» was meant to become a kind of gateway to Moscow. It seems to greet arrivals and see off those departing with its inner beauty and decor. The station's artistic design is dedicated to the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The chief architect paid great attention to the decorative design of the vault. On its surface are 8 mosaic panels that illustrate a speech by Stalin delivered before the troops departing for the front.
«Mayakovskaya», Moscow
The station is named after the Soviet poet Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky, a vivid representative of Futurism. «Mayakovskaya» is unique in itself. The massive pylons are replaced by rather thin columns, the corners of which are lined with marble-like limestone and Ural stone. The floor is laid with white marble, as well as gray and pink granite.
And the vault of the central hall is adorned with oval niches that hold light fixtures and magnificent, unique smalt panels. The only drawback is that the panels are set deep in the niches and are noticeable only when you stand directly beneath them.
«Ploshchad Gabdully Tukaya», Kazan
Gabdulla Tukay is considered one of the founders of the Tatar language and of the nation's poetic tradition. He was a poet and prose writer, a translator and a literary critic, and many writers became followers of his work. It is precisely to the work of Gabdulla Tukay that the rich design of the metro station in Kazan is dedicated. The station itself is finished with white and green marble. On the track walls of the station are 22 mosaic panels with illustrations to the author's famous poems. One of the mosaics depicts Tukay himself, and one of the station's vestibules also houses a bust of the writer.
«Novoperedelkino», Moscow
The main idea of the «Novoperedelkino» station is to combine traditional Russian and modern architectural motifs. The station's design is styled after the decor of old Russian teremok houses and chambers. For example, the light fixtures imitate painted grass ornaments, and around the columns of the vestibules are light boxes that resemble the vaults of chambers. Light granite and dark magnesite were used to finish the platform. The above-ground vestibule of «Novoperedelkino» is a rectangular glazed structure with patterns, well-lit from within.
«Novoslobodskaya», Moscow
«Novoslobodskaya» was the last work of the outstanding metro architect Dushkin. He designed such unique stations as Mayakovskaya, Kropotkinskaya, and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. However, it is precisely «Novoslobodskaya» that some consider one of his most beautiful creations. The station is decorated with 32 stained-glass works of colored glass, of the kind customarily used to adorn Catholic churches.
In the upper part of each stained-glass window are medallions. Each of them is dedicated to a particular profession: geographer, artist, architect, power engineer, musician, and agronomist. And all the other medallions depict five-pointed stars. Another unique feature of the station is the wall panel «Peace Throughout the World», depicting a woman with an infant – the Motherland.
«Sibirskaya», Novosibirsk
This station is the deepest station of the entire Novosibirsk metro. The suspended ceiling between the central hall and the track platform is done in cold colors and brings to mind ice-covered stones. After all, by the design of the project's authors, the station was meant to express the true character of Siberia. The track walls are faced with light-toned marble, and there are also magnificent mosaic panels on them. On each side are four panels. On the left side – «The Waters of Siberia», «The History of Siberia», «The Flowers of Siberia», and «People and Mountains». On the right – «The Forests of Siberia», «The Bread of Siberia», «The North», and «The Depths of Siberia».
«Slavyansky Bulvar», Moscow
The «Slavyansky Bulvar» station opened in 2008. At first the station was planned to be decorated with natural black stone, but in the end the station was faced with green marble. On the platform are three benches for passengers with decorative green ornate lamps. Along the track walls are wrought-iron grilles with a plant ornament depicted on them. The grilles of the staircase are also very beautiful and have a plant ornament. The station's chief artist states that the main inspiration for creating the station was French Art Nouveau. And it shows – in fact, the «Slavyansky Bulvar» station is considered one of the most elegant stations of the Moscow metro.
