Sydney’s Gadigal Station Wins World Interior Design Title

Gadigal Station in Sydney wins the 2025 World Title for its stunning interior, integrating culture and design. This landmark project drives urban densification and elevates transport hubs.

January 28, 2026 11:39 am

🛑 Key Takeaways:

Sydney’s Gadigal Station has won the 2025 world title for most beautiful station interior, recognizing its blend of architecture, materials, and cultural integration.
The station, opened in August 2024, serves approximately 15,700 passengers daily and provides express services to key hubs in under 15 minutes.
The project exemplifies a global trend in transport-oriented development, integrating a major transit hub with premium office and residential towers to drive urban densification.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Gadigal Station has been awarded the 2025 World Title – Special Prize for Interior, adding a new architectural symbol to the city. The award, which follows the station’s inclusion in the “Magnificent Seven” list in November 2024, recognizes the project’s design by Foster + Partners and COX Architecture for operator Sydney Metro. The station is a core component of a large-scale urban development project, combining transport with commercial and residential real estate.

Category	Specification / Detail
Project	Gadigal Station, Sydney
Award	2025 World Title – Special Prize for Interior
Opening Date	August 2024
Daily Ridership	Approx. 15,700 passengers
Key Stakeholders	Sydney Metro, Foster + Partners, COX Architecture
Associated Development	Parkline Place (office tower), 234-unit residential building

Operational & Technical Details

The station’s design features spacious halls clad in sandstone and platforms with aluminum tubular paneling. These panels serve both acoustic control and aesthetic functions. A key design element is the integration of Aboriginal cultural heritage. The station is named for the Gadigal people, and its entrances feature the “Return of the Gadi Reed” cast aluminum sculptures by artists Rowena Welsh-Jarrett, Alison Page, and Dakota Dixon.

Operationally, Gadigal Station is part of a six-station underground section. It provides express services with journey times of 13 minutes to Chatswood and nine minutes to Sydenham. This enhances connectivity across Sydney’s metro network.

Market Impact Analysis

The award validates Sydney Metro’s strategy to elevate transport hubs from purely functional infrastructure to landmark public spaces. This approach serves as a model for transit-oriented development (TOD) globally. By co-locating the station with premium office and residential towers, the project acts as a driver for urban regeneration and smart densification. This integration of mobility, work, and living spaces is an increasingly critical strategy for large cities aiming to manage growth sustainably and enhance urban value.

FAQ: Quick Facts

What is the main value of this project?

The project’s value lies in its successful integration of public transport, office space, and housing. It sets a new standard for using transport infrastructure as a catalyst for urban regeneration and creating a culturally significant public space.

When was the station completed?

The station is fully operational. It opened to the public in August 2024.