T
he
Kropcke subway station,
the largest and most important in
the city, lies in the very heart of
Hanover. In the past, it was considered to
be a monument to the worst city
architecture of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The structure that was built during that
period somewhat resembled a “catacomb”
made of cement that, given its bulk, looked
quite unfriendly and dangerous and people
tended to avoid it.
That is why the station was thoroughly
renovated, with the purpose of conveying
a new positive sense of space, so as to
make it one of the attractions of the
metropolitan system.
The task was entrusted to Massimo Iosa
Ghini, an Italian architect and designer
who, for this major project, chose Sicis
who has also accomplished the important
project of the Rome Subway.
“Smalto” mosaic was used, thanks to its
lightness and brightness, and Sicis provided
as many as 13,000 sqm/143,000 sqft of it.
In addition, 350 sqm/3,850 sqft were used
to make large panels in which the designer
reproduced his typical “cartoons”
depicting fictitious cities of the future.
Such panels were especially demanding
as they were made on site using totally
manual techniques, under careful
supervision.
Subway - Kröpcke
H
ANNOVER-GERMANY
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