Washington DC metro station
Explore #380 February 25, 2010
The Washington DC metro system stations are instantly recognizable by the very striking exposed-concrete waffle pattern of their vaulted ceilings. This design, by architect Harry Mohr Weese, is a notable example of late 20th-century modern architecture (characterized by simple designs where ornamentation arises from the structure itself rather than anything added on).
I personally feel the design is visually appealing, and I find it interesting to see raw concrete used so effectively in a tactful decorative way. And that's why I'm sharing this picture here - even though there is no shortage of this basic kind of photo of the DC Metro here on flickr (it has become something of a standard DC tourist photo op), I was pleased that I managed to capture well the texture and actual color of the concrete in my version of it (elements often missing from such shots due to the low-light conditions).
Although I definitely like the design, I have to add that I think it is terribly overused in the DC system. The same pattern is used across the whole station system, which robs the individual stations that are hubs of neighborhood traffic of any personal or unique character. Nothing clues you in about where you are in the city unless you read the station name on the wall.