Urban design in underground public spaces: lessons from Moscow Metro

Moscow Metro stations near the Kremlin and Red Square exemplify how underground public spaces can serve dual purposes: enhancing urban transit while revitalizing city centers. Unlike Western counterparts, these stations incorporate innovative design principles—such as 'soft edge' and 'triangulation props'—that foster social activity in platform halls and escalators, regardless of original intent. The study highlights three stations (Okhotny Ryad, Tverskaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii) as case studies for architects and planners, demonstrating how thoughtful design can transform underground environments into vibrant public spaces.

Lee, J. M. (2021). Urban design in underground public spaces: lessons from Moscow Metro. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 21(4), 1590–1605. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2021.1941978