designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway

archtober is a month-long celebration of architecture and design, which is taking place in new york throughout october. as an official media partner, designboom is participating in some of

the exciting activities, programs, and exhibitions. as part of archtober, untapped cities, an online resource dedicated to sharing a unique side of new york, is offering tours of the subway

and, while there are many sites to see on the city’s surface, we headed underground to explore what lies beneath new york’s bustling streetscape.

designboom headed underground to explore what lies beneath new york’s bustling streetscape image © designboom

the tour begins at city hall park, the birthplace of the entire subway system, where our informed guide points out visible elements of the decommissioned city hall station. after descending

beneath the guastavino tile-clad arches of the towering municipal building, guests discover the architectural ghosts of the now nearly forgotten, and partially abandoned, chambers street

station — once nicknamed the ‘grand central of downtown’. at this eerily quiet entrance, ticket counters have been boarded up with children’s artwork, while signage from a bygone era clings

to the station’s historic walls.

tour guests descend beneath the guastavino tile-clad arches of the towering municipal building image © designboom

the 6 train is then used as a ten-car time machine, with riders able to see abandoned stations that passengers unknowingly pass through everyday. the tour then unearths the remnants of union

square station, which have been repurposed as an art installation hiding in plain sight.

the two-hour tour gives a comprehensive history of one of the world’s largest rapid transit networks, from its groundbreaking in 1901 to the often derided, but always essential system we

know today. see untapped cities’ website to view available tour dates, and visit archtober’s website for information on other events taking place this month.

chambers street station was once nicknamed the ‘grand central of downtown’ image © designboom

the nearly forgotten and partially abandoned station image © designboom

tour guests encounter the station’s architectural ghosts image © designboom

a disused platform sits at the center of chambers street station image © designboom

signage from a bygone era clings to the station’s historic walls image © designboom

ticket counters have been boarded up with children’s artwork image © designboom

the tour unearths the remnants of union square station image © designboom

historic artifacts have been repurposed as an art installation hiding in plain sight image © designboom

the terracotta emblem references union square’s 14th street location image © designboom