Two French train stations have been selected among the seven most beautiful railway stations in the world for 2025, according to the prestigious Prix Versailles, a global architecture prize supported by UNESCO. The Saint-Denis Pleyel station, designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, and the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, created by French architect Dominique Perrault, have both earned spots on this exclusive list of finalists.
The complete list of finalists was announced Monday in Paris, showcasing a remarkable collection of architectural achievements from around the globe. Beyond the two French stations that are part of the new Grand Paris Express transport network encircling the French capital, the jury also recognized several other outstanding projects. These include the Gadigal station in Sydney, Australia, designed by the prestigious Foster + Partners firm, and the Mons station in Belgium, built by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
The selection also features impressive works from Asia and the Middle East. The Baiyun station in Canton, China, was designed by the Japanese agency Nikken Sekkei, while Saudi Arabia contributed two remarkable stations in Riyadh: the KAFD station conceived by Zaha Hadid Architects, and the Qasr Al Hokm station created by the Norwegian agency Snohetta.
Jérôme Gouadain, secretary general of the Prix Versailles, emphasized the significance of this year's selection to AFP, noting that train stations, particularly the recent underground cathedrals of automated urban transport systems, "are once again becoming a playground for great architects." He highlighted that this marks the first time since the prize was launched in 2015 that so many major names in global architecture have appeared in the train station category.
Gouadain explained that these transit spaces are particularly inspiring because substantial resources are being invested worldwide in revitalizing public transportation systems. The recognition reflects a growing trend where railway stations are being transformed from mere functional spaces into architectural landmarks that serve as gateways to cities and symbols of urban innovation.
The Prix Versailles was created with the mission to "make culture an issue of sustainable development" and recognizes recent architectural achievements across eight different categories worldwide. Since January, the competition has already selected winners in museums, hotels, restaurants, universities, airports, and commercial buildings. Following Monday's announcement of the train station finalists, the selection of stadiums will complete the process at the end of November.
The final judging process involves an international jury of eight distinguished individuals, presided over by a prominent cultural figure and including four renowned architects. This expert panel will choose three projects from the finalists in each of the eight categories by the end of the year. The selected works will receive a "world title" during a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The composition of the jury for this final selection phase has not yet been revealed.
Last year's jury demonstrated the caliber of expertise involved in the selection process. The 2024 panel included American architect Daniel Libeskind, Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, and Chinese architect Wang Shu, who was also a 2012 Pritzker Prize laureate. The architectural experts were joined by French choreographer Benjamin Millepied, Spanish actress Blanca Suarez, German violinist Julia Fischer, and Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei, creating a diverse panel that brought together perspectives from architecture, performing arts, entertainment, music, and fashion.
