With or Without U5

With a few exceptions, Berlin’s U-Bahn (or underground) stations are rather modest affairs that get the job done but are not known for their aesthetics. But this changed recently, when the missing link of the U5 opened, connecting the Brandenburg Gate with Alexanderplatz. The U5 travels between some of Berlin’s most well-known tourist attractions, as well as some more esoteric destinations like the Stasi Museum and Kienberg cable car.

The three new stations include Unter den Linden, the famous tree-lined promenade that leads east from the Brandenburg Gate, the Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall).

By far the coolest is Museumsinsel. Granite rectilinear columns with inset lighting are juxtaposed against a deep blue vaulted ceiling containing 7200 LEDs that mimic a starry sky. Munich still has the largest number of modern subway stations of which I am aware, but this station is my new favorite.

Because the U5 runs underneath the river Spree and the earth is thoroughly saturated, it was impossible to build the tunnel by simply pumping water out of the soil. Instead, the contractor used refrigerant lines to freeze the ground below the river, allowing excavation to proceed. Pretty freezin’ awesome!

The other stations are nothing to write home about, but their clean lines and cool shapes are interesting in their own right. The limited number of columns and tall ceiling height of Rotes Rathaus station provide a feeling of spaciousness you don’t get in most other U-Bahn stations.

Finally, here is the escalator at Unter den Linden, where the U5 crosses the U6. The station layout reminds me of Metro Center in Washington, DC, the city with arguably the coolest stations in the United States.

While it may not be my favorite station, Unter den Linden does earn a special place in my heart. This is where Bosworth took his final U-Bahn ride. Miss you, buddy. ;(