20.12.2022
The Elizabeth line links communities that were never before connected and reduces travel time for thousands of Londoners. But beyond this, Wynne Leung, Architect at Grimshaw, reveals how the new line is also a benchmark for understanding the connections between wellbeing and our transport infrastructure.
As one of the densest cities in Europe. with a population of 8.7 million, London is a compelling but complex environment. A labyrinth-like medieval layout from which it evolved, layered with centuries of public and private development, can leave residents and visitors disoriented. Combine this with an average one-hour commute for many Londoners, air and noise pollution, and limited access to nature, it is no surprise that city residents have a 20% higher risk of developing anxiety and depression compared to residents of rural areas, as revealed by recent studies in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Against this backdrop, the Elizabeth line ― London’s newest railway ― for which Grimshaw led the line-wide design strategy ― is a new direction for transport architecture, shifting our experience of navigating London’s urban maze and perhaps giving us a little bit of joy in doing so.
Shaping experience through space
Space is a luxury in our dense urban cities, and studies show that the quantity and configuration of space in private and public settings influences people socially, physically, and neurologically. Travelling on the Elizabeth line, often one of the first reactions passengers have is to the generous spaces of the platforms and tunnels. ‘These stations are like cathedrals’ stated the Mayor of London, and in comparison to the existing London Underground network that the Elizabeth line is now part of, the metaphor is not lost. The vastness of this environment is in part thanks to the scale of the tunnels and platforms ― double the length and height of standard London Underground stations ― but it’s maximised by the sprayed concrete lining that ‘shrink wraps’ the structure. Endless curvature frames the passenger spaces, and tunnel junctions that otherwise would have been collision risks, become sinuous forms; a safer, organic, flowing and therefore, joyful, space.
These links between spaces that feel somehow natural and improve wellbeing have been well researched. In The Shaping of Us: How Everyday Spaces Structure our Lives, Behaviour, and Wellbeing Lily Bernheimer explains how “streets that curve out of sight, leading us on with a tantalising hint of what lies beyond,” have been proven to leave a much more positive effect on our wellbeing than the orderly street grids of many modern cities. In other words, as humans, we prefer environments where the layout architectural form appears as if it is grown organically, mimicking the natural world.
Legibility through architectural cues
With better spaces comes legibility. Michael Bond, researcher in psychology and social behaviour, stated in ’The hidden ways that architecture affects how you feel’ how poorly navigable spaces increase stress and anxiety, while legible environments help us to understand our surroundings and relieve stress. In transport architecture, we translate this as intuitive wayfinding, and design that enables every passenger to enjoy a seamless, subconsciously navigable journey.
On the Elizabeth line, myth guided the reality. Where the Greek Goddess Ariadne advised Theseus to leave a trail of red thread behind him on the descent into the Daedalean maze so that he was able to safely find his way out, intelligent design features in the Elizabeth line work together in a similar way. Passengers are guided from street level to platform and back again with integrated wayfinding totems providing physical beacons of navigation, and the geometry and symmetry of the cladding panels provide a subtle steer – nudging passenger flow and behaviour.
Giving light the time of day
Enhancing this thread of legibility and enjoyment of spaces is light. Extensive research on lighting and wellbeing by organisations such as International WELL Building Institute, Philips, and VELUX, exemplify the effect light has on our circadian rhythms, hormones, sleep cycle, productivity, and general mood. But the role lighting plays in design is not always given enough light in the day.
Underground spaces such as the Elizabeth line obviously demand a lighting strategy, and along the vast platforms and tunnels this was shaped, first and foremost, by passenger experience. Combinations of lighting intensity, direction and temperature were developed to support physical activity and mental wellbeing. In slower spaces where passengers pause and gather, such as in station concourses, on escalator passages and on platforms, warm lighting creates a calming mood and nudges passengers to adopt a slower pace. In comparison, in the fast spaces such as the junctions between tunnels, higher luminosity lighting encourages a sense of alertness and pace. Enhancing both the brightness and ambience in each of these spaces, glass reinforced concrete (GFRC) cladding subtly reflects light thanks to mica particles in the panels, while its matte finish reduces glare. In addition to the harmony of interior finishes and customised lighting, the variation in mood between different spaces serves to punctuate journeys, further contributing to the overall wellbeing of passengers.
A wellbeing future for transport
Over 170 years ago John Ruskin in his essay, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, wrote, “Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man, that the sight of them may contribute to his mental health, power, and pleasure.”
Today, this power that our built environment has to transform, influence, and reflect our wellbeing still rings true, and the Elizabeth line is just one example of the impact transport architecture can have. However, we still rarely design spaces that are driven purely by these human principles, nor do we take the time to unpack designs to discover the connections between the tangible physical world and our intangible mental one. We know the act of travelling is more than linking passengers to destinations on a map. We can, through design, enable the wellbeing of all passengers and create travelling experiences across our busy cities which are joyful, giving space to us all to pause, reflect and connect with the city.