The forward-looking infrastructure project for the new U80/U81 light rail lines will connect Düsseldorf Airport to the Düsseldorf light rail network for the first time and provide direct access to the Düsseldorf Trade Fair, the Arena, and downtown Düsseldorf.

The centerpiece of the first construction phase of the 1.9-kilometer-long route—alongside the new Nordstern Bridge and the 400-meter-long tunnel—is the underground structure of the new “Flughafen Terminal” subway station, which, at a length of approximately 182 meters, is located directly beneath the potential arrivals level of the planned, expanded airport terminal and forms an integral part of the airport’s development.

The architecture of the spacious, wayfinding-oriented subway station deliberately draws on key design elements of the airport and adapts them into a unifying design language. A defining feature is the linear steel tubes that run along the station’s walls and ceilings, evoking the airport’s characteristic canopy structure. The strictly aligned bands are broken up by lighting elements that appear to be randomly placed and by the blue band of platform signage running the entire length of the approximately 90-meter-long platform. The resulting linear structures create a dynamic spatial effect that is further enhanced when a train pulls in. The art installation *frequencies* by artist Anna Vogel blends discreetly into the architecture and enhances the open, spacious atmosphere created by high ceilings, light-colored, understated materials, an abundance of natural light, and the comparatively wide central platform—all of which contribute to a high quality of the passenger experience. Clear lines of sight facilitate simple, intuitive wayfinding, ensuring that the route and the transition to the future airport terminal are perceived as seamless and natural. The train station and terminal are thus experienced as a single, architecturally cohesive unit.

Location:

Düsseldorf Flughafen

Client:

City of Düsseldorf

Developer:

Ingenieurgemeinschaft Grassl / Vössing (IGV)

Architecture Terminal Station :

slapa oberholz pszczulny | sop architekten

Completion:

2026