Since the opening of Madrid’s first metro line in 1919, the city’s inhabitants have been able to enjoy various decorative elements, both inside and outside the facilities. One of the most recent examples of groundbreaking decoration can be found in the Chamartín metro station, where a huge curved panel has been installed which, like a mural, depicts a waterfall with an impressive play of led lights.
This canvas covers three of the four floors, is 21 meters high and extends 50 meters horizontally in a curve. It covers an area of more than a thousand square meters, on which a backlit canvas with fluorescent light brings the waterfall to life.
The sculpture is entitled Iguazú and was designed by Vicente Patón and Alberto Tellería. According to the creators, it was intended to unify the entire space and create a coherent effect, as well as serve as a reference image for the station. They also admit they were inspired by the light that floods the cathedral apses, replacing it in this case with an artificial light in constant movement that accompanies travelers on their descent through the different levels of the station.
