Espoonlahti metro station

ALA Architects has designed three of the five stations along the second leg of the western extension of the Helsinki metro line. The metro runs in a tunnel for this entire section from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti. Excavation of the metro tunnels began in late 2014 and the construction of the stations in 2016. Construction work was completed in May 2022 and metro traffic began on December 3, 2022.

The Espoonlahti suburb is a Finnish version of a stereotypical North American town, both car-centric and built around a shopping mall. The Espoonlahti metro station is designed to be an integral part of the mall – the heart of the suburb, linked to the artery-like metro tracks. Just like America, Espoonlahti breaths to the rhythm of sports: the nearby hockey rink, the public pool and the sports fields have a strong impact on the character of the area. This same atmosphere continues inside the metro station, too. The station is lit with bright white light and have a fresh swimming pool feel. A strong illusion of a brisk 90-meter-long lap pool hovering above the platform is created with rippling chrome.

In addition to the underground metro station, the commission also included the design of the over ground bus terminal. The sports theme continues there, too, with running tracks leading the passengers to the platforms.