A cascade of vaults over the metro station of Naples’ Centro Direzionale
in ARCHITETTURA | architecture
© Roland Halbe I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
The architecture firm EMBT (Enric Miralles & Benedetta Tagliabue), based in Barcelona and led by Benedetta Tagliabue, has designed the new metro station at Naples’ Centro Direzionale, on Line 1. The construction site was inaugurated on August 2, 2014, and works lasted ten years until the summer of 2024, partly due to a long interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The station was opened to the public on April 1, 2025. The Centro Direzionale di Napoli (CDN) is a complex of skyscrapers located in the Poggioreale district, near Naples’ central station, forming a self-contained city. Designed by Japanese architect Kenzō Tange, the urban plan was completed in 1995, though only partially compared to the original project.
© Roland Halbe I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
The CDN was conceived to alleviate congestion in the historic city center by concentrating public offices and major corporate headquarters in a single location. It is the first skyscraper cluster built in Italy and Southern Europe. The construction of the towers, with a dozen ranging from 70 to 129 floors, was entrusted to internationally renowned Italian architects, including Renzo Piano (Olivetti Pavilion), Massimo Pica Ciamarra (the two ENEL Towers), and Nicola Pagliara (Banco di Napoli Towers and Edilres Building).
© EMBT I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
The urban structure features a wide central thoroughfare lined with squares of various shapes (circular, rectangular, etc.) and sizes, some adorned with fountains. Beneath this main road are numerous parking areas, escalators, and vehicular arteries connecting the peripheral parts of the architectural complex to the city’s core. The district is one of the most significant urban projects completed in Naples in recent decades. Inspired by Le Corbusier’s principles, it offers a positive example of a clear separation between underground automotive traffic and pedestrian spaces.
© EMBT I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
At the time of its construction, the complex brought a sense of modernization to the city, making it one of the largest and most imposing skyscraper clusters in Southern Europe. The new metro station, spanning 10,000 square meters, not only renovates the underground infrastructure but also introduces an innovative public space, enhancing pedestrian flow and creating a covered plaza—a central urban landmark that revitalizes an area that tends to empty out in the evenings.
© Paolo Fassoli I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
The building itself presents a monumental and sculptural roof that reshapes the urban topography, breaking away from the rigid lines of the financial district. Its architectural gesture takes shape through a system of gentle curvatures in the vaulted roof, a hallmark of EMBT’s design language. These undulating lines recall other notable works by the Spanish studio, such as the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (2004), the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona (2005), the Public Library of Palafolls (2007) in Spain, and, more recently, the parish complex of San Giacomo in Ferrara (2021) in Italy.
© Paolo Fassoli I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
The roof-column system is entirely made of glued laminated timber (glulam). Although an unusual choice for infrastructure of this type, it harmonizes perfectly with the existing structure. The width of the underlying tracks directly influences the dimensions of the undulating vaults, which vary in curvature and light openings. This configuration allows natural light to filter through, creating shaded areas that, together with additional green spaces, help regulate temperature during the warmer months.
© Roland Halbe I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.
Thus, the new station becomes a hybrid between indoor and outdoor space. The wooden columns rest on concrete blocks firmly anchored to steel joints, ensuring a dynamic and welcoming environment. The opening of the new metro station at Naples’ Centro Direzionale marks a turning point for the area, blending functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. With its tectonic structure and EMBT’s distinctive design, the station not only improves urban mobility but also redefines the architectural landscape of this part of Naples, offering citizens a space for gathering rather than mere transit. An infrastructure that bridges past and future, further integrating the district into the city’s vibrant dynamics.
© Roland Halbe I Naples’ Centro Direzionale Metro Station.