Docking Bay

Severinstraße is one of the standouts of Cologne's underground network. Massive angled concrete pillars pull toward each other, forming a cathedral-like corridor down the center of the platform. Above them, a perforated metal canopy hangs in geometric panels, lit from within at intervals. Nearly symmetrical. Somewhat alien. Walking under it, I felt as if I were standing beneath a UFO that had just deployed its landing gear and docked.

A few blocks north of this station stands a major architectural contrast…Germany's most visited landmark, the Gothic cathedral. Separated by the better part of eight centuries, its carved stone and ornate detail are the opposite of the clean modern lines down here. I took in both within two hours, and the contradiction stuck with me. The cathedral is a World Heritage Site, revered for its style and grandeur. This station is simply part of the mass transit system, mostly function over form and not on any “Things to see in Cologne” lists.

Trains came through every eight minutes or so. Each time, a few people stepped off, scattered up the stairs, and were gone. Perhaps they pass through every day, but most never looked up, or around, moving for the exit as fast as they could. Unlike the daily commuters, I lingered here, mostly in solitude. Much like the cathedral, this space asked me to stay.