[Photo] Unique architecture of the deepest metro station in France

Villejuif-Gustave Roussy metro station in Villejuif (on the outskirts of Paris) is one of the typical works of the Grand Paris Express urban transport project. Dubbed “the deepest metro station in France”, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy contributes to solving complex challenges of space and traffic connection.

In early 2025, the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy metro station officially came into operation, becoming a new architectural and technical symbol of the suburban area of ​​Ile-de-France (the capital region of France), as well as creating new standards in the field of underground public transport.

Located on the main traffic route from central Paris to Orly International Airport in the south, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station is located next to the Gustave-Roussy International Cancer Research and Treatment Institute.

The Grand Paris Express project (abbreviated as Grand Paris) is a new metro system in the Paris capital region, which was launched in 2013. With a length of 200km and 68 new stations, construction officially started in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2030 with a total investment of nearly 40 billion euros (estimated in 2024).

The Grand Paris Express is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, and is considered a transport project of the century. When completed, it will be a new, fully automated metro network around the capital Paris.

Automatic, fast, safe and punctual are the requirements for the Grand Paris metro. When the new network with 4 automated metro lines comes into operation, some people in Paris and the surrounding area will reduce their daily travel time by half or even more. According to the assessment of the Chamber of Commerce of the Paris region, the profits that the Grand Paris metro system will bring will amount to hundreds of billions of euros.

The station is also the intersection of two modern metro lines 14 and 15 of the Grand Paris Express urban transport project. Metro line 14, passing through Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, officially opened to the public on January 18, 2025.

Meanwhile, line 15 is expected to be operational from the summer of 2026. When both lines are operational, the station is expected to become one of the busiest transport hubs in the region.

The Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station operates continuously, with a frequency of just a few minutes, opening up many great social benefits. For example, the more than 3,000 employees of the Gustave-Roussy International Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment can use the station to travel to other places.

Now, from the Gustave-Roussy Institute, passengers can reach Orly International Airport in less than 10 minutes and Châtelet-Les Halles station in central Paris in just 16 minutes. The ease of access is helping to reduce the stress of emergency situations for patients and their families, and is also enhancing the attractiveness of this international research and medical facility.

Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station is also the “nucleus” that promotes the development of the new urban area Campus Grand Parc. This is one of the largest urban development projects in the capital region of Ile-de-France.

The project aims to create an urban campus of international stature, focusing on research and innovation in the fields of oncology and biotechnology. The goal is to create a leading cancer biocluster in Europe. The area is planned with ^15,000m2 of economic activity, ^10,000m2 of commercial space, and approximately 3,100 apartments, of which 36% are social housing, along with 30 hectares of public green space.

Inspired by the architectural design on the drawings, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station with a depth of 48.8m, known as "the deepest metro station in France", is the answer to the technical challenges in construction: ensuring comfortable conditions of light, sound and space.

Architect Dominique Perrault created a cylindrical structure with a diameter of up to 60m, combining 32 giant escalators and 16 elevators. Many optimal technical solutions were applied, thereby consuming the least amount of materials, stabilizing the load-bearing capacity, while creating a seamless space for passengers to easily move around and find the next transfer points.

The materials used for Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station are also a highlight in the design. Glass and steel on the roof, mirror-polished stainless steel in the spaces, and a central skylight system, bring natural light down to the top floor of the station.

The natural ventilation and temperature control system is designed to maintain a stable “wine cellar-like” temperature without the need for energy-consuming cooling systems.

While traditional metro stations in central Paris (left photo) are often crowded and congested with passengers waiting for trains during rush hour, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station offers a flexible and pleasant travel experience. Through this, it can be seen that the Campus Grand Parc urban and economic development project helps to greatly reduce traffic pressure and living space compared to the inner city of Paris.

It can be said that the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy metro station is a skillful combination of architectural ideas, mastery of construction techniques and the strategic vision of social development of the government. Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station is not simply a stop, but a door to enter a new livable urban center.

TRIUMPH - MINH DUY

Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter based in France

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-kien-truc-doc-cua-ga-tau-dien-sau-nhat-nuoc-phap-post922950.html