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 explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
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.

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
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.

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
the vaulted ceilings soar overhead
image © designboom

 

 

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.

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
chambers street station was once nicknamed the ‘grand central of downtown’
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
the nearly forgotten and partially abandoned station
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
tour guests encounter the station’s architectural ghosts
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
a disused platform sits at the center of chambers street station
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
signage from a bygone era clings to the station’s historic walls
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
ticket counters have been boarded up with children’s artwork
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
the tour unearths the remnants of union square station
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
historic artifacts have been repurposed as an art installation hiding in plain sight
image © designboom

designboom explores the underground architecture of the NYC subway
the terracotta emblem references union square’s 14th street location
image © designboom