Станция метро "Аэропорт": История и Архитектура

Moscow Metro station

Aeroport (Аэропо́рт, ) is a Moscow Metro station on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line. Its name, literally meaning airport, owes to the nearby Khodynka Aerodrome, Moscow's first airport, no longer in operation. Now, there is a bus terminal (Goraerovokzal, Гораэровокзал) which has regular service to Moscow's principal airports. Opened as part of the second stage on 11 September 1938, the station features a single vault design. It was built using a cut and cover method. Concrete segments of the vault were pre cast and then lowered into the station. Architects B. Vilensky and V. Yershov applied the aviation theme to this big open station, in what is seen as some of the best examples of Soviet Art Deco architecture. The most noticeable design feature is the network of intersecting ribs that fan out across the vaulted ceiling. These ribs originate from fan shaped limestone panels spaced at regular intervals along the walls, which are red marble with shell shaped brown marble insets. The floor is revetted with grey granite. Lighting comes from pyramidal objects which house luminescent lamps, although originally the station had chandeliers with normal tungsten bulbs. The vestibule to the station is located on the north side of Leningradsky Avenue near the Viktorenko Street, and receives a daily passenger traffic of 59,800.

In the station's design, the architects tried to express the theme of Soviet aviation. The desire to convey the volume of the platform hall led to the choice of a single vault station design, so the vault was built of monolithic reinforced concrete according to a special design. Above the track walls, there are diamond shaped cast iron ventilation grilles. They are inscribed in the intersections of the "parachute slings". On the ceiling is a row of conical chandeliers for fluorescent lamps, giving evenly diffused light. The chandeliers originally consisted of semi circular lamps fixed around a single spherical сeiling. However, they gave too little light and were, therefore, replaced. The floor of the station is lined with grey granite. Originally, the platform was covered with asphalt, and a patterned walkway, made of marble, ran along its centre. There are five double sided wooden benches in the centre of the station. Above their backs, there are information boards and signs. The ends of the station hall are connected to the two vestibules by wide staircases passing through arches decorated with decorative metal grilles. Each vestibule has a rectangular shape. The upper part stands out with a circle on the ceiling which is supported by four onyx columns with many faces. The ceiling has an intricate stucco pattern. The walls of the ante rooms are lined with dark yellow marble limestone; the pilasters are of black marble. The vestibules are communicated by staircases with two lobbies facing Leningradsky Avenue. They are built into two residential buildings, built in 1938 (in 1954 the buildings were connected).