Art and architecture on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
Art and architecture on the Mass Rapid Transit 'of Singapore' have developed progressively since the system's inception. The stations on the initial network, the North–South and East–West lines, were built with simple and functional designs that prioritised cost efficiency and safety. As the network expanded, architectural themes were introduced, with varied roof structures. These include either giving stations an "ethnic touch", such as Chinese style roofs at Chinese Garden station and a Minangkabau design at Eunos station, or to simply enhance visual appeal, as seen in the cylindrical roof design of EWL stations in eastern Singapore. Newer stations incorporated barrier free features such as lifts and tactile guidance routes, while overall designs evolved to reflect more contemporary architectural trends.
The early MRT network also included murals and sculptures that depicted the history or activities of the areas surrounding the stations, although these artworks were not part of the original station plans. In 1997, the Art-in-Transit programme was launched, beginning with the North East Line. The programme integrates artworks directly into station design and has since commissioned over 300 works for 80 stations across the NEL, the Circle Line, the Downtown Line and the Thomson–East Coast Line, with future works planned for the Jurong Region and Cross Island lines. The initiative aims to enhance the commuting experience, foster a sense of identity and provide a platform to showcase local artistry, connecting commuters to Singapore's histories, geographies and communities.
North–South and East–West lines
The initial stations on the first MRT lines in Singapore have simple designs, with more focus on engineering and safety using simple aesthetics. One main concern back then has been crowd movement. The size of the station platforms and the width and height of the entrances have been carefully conceptualised to ensure enhanced passenger movement in the network. Nevertheless, some of these stations have artworks reflecting the area they serve, and key features were employed for the underground stations in the Central Business District. One example is the distinctive dome above Orchard station, which is featured as the "showpiece" for the MRT network. Each station also has a colour scheme which distinguishes them from one another.In the later Phase II of the network, the roofs of the elevated stations have distinct designs which reflect Singapore's heritage and the surroundings, proposed by architect Scott Danielson. The Lakeside and Chinese Garden stations have curved Chinese roofs similar to the structures in Chinese Garden, while Eunos station has a Malay-style roof to reflect the locality of Geylang Serai, a Malay enclave. The roof of Jurong East station, meanwhile, is similar in design to the adjacent Jurong East Bus Interchange: a space frame roof made up of cylindrical steel tubes with ball joints arranged in a geometric style. On the eastern stretch of the MRT network from the Kallang to Pasir Ris stations, the elevated stations have a dome-shaped roof, segmented like a caterpillar, over the platforms. The design was intended by the MRT Corporation to give the stations on the EWL stations an "attractive look".
In 2025, the LTA announced that 40 older stations on the North–South and East–West lines will gain public artworks, as part of expansion of the Art in Transit programme.
Changi Airport branch (2001)
The elevated Expo station is designed by British architectural firm Foster and Partners. The station features two roofs overlapping one another — a stainless-steel roof over the concourse and ticket level in diameter, and a long titanium roof stretching over the platform level. The former reflects sunlight into the concourse which minimises the need for artificial lighting, while the latter deflects sun rays, which cools the platform by up to four degrees less than its surroundings. These materials for the roof were adapted to fit into warm tropical Singaporean climate. The spacious interior of the station allows natural lighting and ventilation. Its futuristic design reflects the country's willingness to experiment with new ideas and technology, symbolising the "thriving world-class city" that Singapore was building for in the 21st century.Various features have been incorporated into the design to make Changi Airport station aesthetically pleasing to travellers. The station is designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, featuring a large interior space and an illuminated linkbridge spanning over the island platform, connecting Terminals 2 and 3 with travellators. Australian engineering company Meinhardt Facades also provided structural design engineering of the glazing system and the tensioned cable structure of the two atria located at both ends of the station box adjacent to Terminal 2 and 3 of Changi Airport, with engineering input by Ove Arup and Partners. In 2011, the station was rated 10 out of 15 most beautiful subway stops in the world by BootsnAll.
Dover station (2001)
Dover station was designed by RSP Architects. At a height of, the three-level station has an arched metal roof supported by stainless steel columns to give a more spacious interior. The station concourse level was clad in floor-to-ceiling glass panels.Canberra station (2019)
Canberra station was designed by RSP Architects and KTP Consultants. The design has a nautical theme; thus, the station is shaped like a ship when viewed from the outside. This design was inspired by Sembawang's historical role as a British naval base. The station’s roof is modeled after wind blades to convey the speed of Singapore's public transportation. The sides of the station were constructed using glass rather than concrete to allow natural light to enter. Louvers were installed to provide ventilation. For the construction team's efforts to integrate landscaping and the use of eco-friendly materials, the station was awarded a Platinum certification under the Building and Construction Authority's new Green Mark scheme for transit stations. Canberra station is the first MRT station to attain such a rating.North East Line
Each of the 16 NEL stations has a unique design which reflects its location. The HarbourFront station has a maritime theme, with an elliptical ship's-hull motif used for the ceiling and concourse entrances to the platforms. At Little India, the station walls' metal grills have leaf-shaped patterns similar to the door patterns of Hindu prayer rooms. The station's design was intended to reflect Indian traditions.Station entrances use glass, allowing natural lighting during the day. Exit A of the Chinatown station has a transparent pavilion-style roof, which allows natural light and provides an unobstructed view of the shophouses along Pagoda Street. At Serangoon, each of its four triangular-shaped entrances is painted a different colour and enclosed in a cubic structure. Unlike at the other NEL stations, the entrances to Buangkok do not use glass; white Teflon sheets are supported by metal frames.
Dhoby Ghaut station is the MRT network's largest, and the five-level station is integrated with the twin-towered office complex Atrium@Orchard above it. The network's first such integration of an MRT station with a commercial development, it permits more efficient land use and improves access to public transport. The station's NEL platforms, underground, are some of the MRT's deepest.
The four-level Sengkang station is an integrated hub, with Singapore's three public-transport modes – MRT, LRT and bus – serving the Sengkang area. The MRT/LRT station was the MRT network's first intermodal station for all three transport modes. In addition to its transport facilities, the station is integrated with the Compass Heights and Compass Point developments.
Designed by the 3HPArchitects and Farrells architectural firms, the Punggol station is integrated with the LRT station and the bus interchange. Its curved aluminium and stainless-steel cladding gives the station a futuristic look befitting the Punggol 21 developments. Covering along Punggol Central to accommodate bus stops, taxi stands and passenger drop-off points along the road, the station is the NEL's longest.
Circle Line
Bras Basah station (2010)
Bras Basah station is one of two stations commissioned through the Marina line Architectural Design Competition jointly organised by the Land Transport Authority and the Singapore Institute of Architects. Designed by WOHA, the station design resolves two conflicting conditions needed for the station: allowing a visual connection to the exterior to enhance the travel experience for the commuters, and enabling the station to blend into the landscape in the historic district and park location. A reflection pool, which also acts as the station roof, allows skylight to enter the station, and functions as a landscape element on the surface. With skylight entering the station, minimal artificial light is required for the station during the day. The natural light improves way-finding and safety for the commuters. The ventilation shafts of the station blends into the landscape, avoiding obstruction of the view across the site to the surrounding civic buildings.At the 2001 SIA Awards, the SIA awarded LTA the prize for ‘Excellence in Architectural Design Competitions’. In 2009, the station was awarded the "Best Transport Building" at the World Architecture Festival, on the basis that the design gives "precedence to the surrounding, historically important, colonial structures, creating a piazza-like urban space to the station underneath" and noted the design's functionality to allow natural light into the station. The station later won the Award for International Architecture at the AIA's 2010 National Architecture Awards. In addition, it won the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and International Architecture Awards in 2011.