U-Bahn München: 56/100 Messestadt Ost

Munich underground: 56/100 Messestadt Ost

Messestadt Ost underground station is the eastern terminus of the U2 line. It was opened in 1999 as part of the 6 station extension of the U2 from Innsbrucker Ring eastwards. As with the other stations of this extension, e.g. Kreillerstraße or Josephsburg, the architecture is modern, yet appealing. The common design element is the red colour, although Messestadt Ost only got one red band on each wall and very narrow red bands across the platform.

The walls are faced with corrugated aluminium, bringing to mind the former use of the surrounding area: the old Munich airport in Riem. The rhomboid shape of the aluminium parts indicates the speed of the airplanes, but also hints to today's above-ground usage: the dynamic of a trade fair center. (The literal translation of Messestadt Ost is "Trade Fair City East".)

The eastern exit of the station is a huge, funnel-shaped sundial, which also lets sunlight into the station.

Where there is a Messestadt Ost, there's got to be a Messestadt West.