You may take it every day without even knowing it! Barely 50 years ago, the RER A did not resemble a bland, gray, and uniform station , but rather an ultra-colorful station, where every detail and every space was important . Everything was designed for the comfort of users, but also to make journeys more intuitive and enjoyable. The strong shapes and aesthetics were fully embraced. A time that seems far behind us today! So why abandon such a welcoming design?
RER A: a very colorful design… in the 1970s
@vinceeh_ RER A 1970s design Paris
Bright red phone booths, pop art walls, rounded shops… In the 1970s, RER A users had the chance to stroll through colorful halls, which today seem very welcoming. At that time, the Auber station was entrusted to the illustrious architect André Wogenscky, who had fun redesigning the entire station to make it a living space in its own right. It featured a bright hall with a cathedral ceiling, shops with pop colors and rounded shapes… Every detail was important, such as the color of the walls, which indicated your direction at a glance (blue for north, orange for south). It was a true sensory journey for thousands of users.
@vinceeh_ RER A 1970s design Paris
Why did the RER A lose its colors?
So why did they abandon color and boldness in favor of much more refined designs? Well… for a question of cost. Over the years, the budget allocated to design has been significantly reduced in favor of maintenance, accessibility, and the speed of trains, which must always be at the cutting edge to satisfy the many passengers. The design is intended to be more discreet and understated, taking a back seat to the efficiency and reliability of public transportation. And that’s a shame, because colors have a real beneficial impact on our mental health, especially when we spend so much time underground… We hope that future metro and RER lines will be more colorful! What do you think?