To coincide with a new exhibition on Crossrail station design at the Royal Institute of British Architects, the organisation have released a series of images showing the proposed internal designs of a number of the stations in the line’s core section.

We last explored what Crossrail’s stations were likely to look like back in 2011, when we visited the architect’s full mockup in a warehouse in Leighton Buzzard. Looking at the current set of designs, what’s interesting is that many of the design elements that appeared in that mockup have survived through to the final design stage.

Before exploring the new designs, however, we shall pause and look first at some far earlier mockups. Although not officially part of the set of images Crossrail have released, these can be found in the RIBA exhibition with a little bit of hunting. They give a glimpse both into the way Crossrail was envisioned in the past, and into the early stages of concept design on projects like this. Some of them are works of art in their own right.

Undated early Crossrail concept design, possibly from the early 1990s.

These early designs are fascinating, serving as a reminder that station designs nearly always reflect, consciously or not, the period in which they are built.

Photo of an undated early model of a Crossrail station, possibly from the early 1990s

Moving into the early mockups from the project’s current incarnation, it’s clear that warm colours were a key concept early on, something that has followed through into many of the final designs.

Rough design sketch from current project

Rough design sketch from current project

Concept design for a Bond Street entrance

Moving on to the new station designs, it is clear that the overriding goal is to give passengers a relatively consistent experience at platform level whilst making ticket halls and surface spaces more unique. This was confirmed by Julian Robinson, Head of Architecture at Crossrail, at the RIBA launch event last night.

We’ve broken down all the images below by station.

Paddington

Paddington at platform level

The proposed ticket hall

Another view of the ticket hall

Tottenham Court Road

Tottenham Court Road is described by Robinson as having a “jazzy feel” and elements reminiscent of drums. This is a conscious nod to its Soho surrounds.

Platform level at Tottenham Court Road

The view from outside the Dean Street entrance

Platform level concourse at St Giles Circus entrance

Bond Street

Ticket hall on Davies Street

Ticket hall on Hanover Square

Upper escalator from Davies Street

Another view of the ticket hall on Davies street

Liverpool Street

Robinson describes Liverpool Street has having a “city pin stripe” effect.

Escalator at Moorgate ticket hall

Upper escalator with inclined lift from Broadgate ticket hall

Ticket hall at Broadgate

Whitechapel

The upper concourse

Ticket hall on Mile End road

Farringdon

The station concourse at Cowcross Street

Escalator to Cowcross Street ticket hall

Platform level concourse

Platform level

Another view of the station concourse at Cowcross Street

We will explore the thinking behind these stations, and other aspects of Crossrail’s design, next month.

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