Underground Airport

Aeroport (Russian: Аэропорт, Airport) is a Moscow Metro station on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line. Its name, literally meaning airport, owes to the nearby Khodynka Aerodrome, Moscow's first airport which has by now ceased operation. Presently there is a bus terminal (Goraerovokzal, Гораэровокзал) which has regular service to Moscow's principal airports. Opened in 1938, the station features a single-vault design. 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 reveted with grey granite. Lighting comes from pyramidal objects which house luminescent lamps, although originally the station had chandeliers with normal tungsten bulbs.

(Photographed on Sept. 11, 2011)

Early alternate design by B. Vilensky & D. Savitsky

Info: Wikipedia