Close

Get on board with Zaha Hadid

id celebrates the first phase of the new Napoli Afragola high-speed railway station.

Designed by Zaha Hadid architects to meet the region’s future demand for rail travel – which has increased by more than 50% in the past decade – once all phases of the station are complete in 2022, Napoli Afragola will become a gateway to southern Italy and key interchange station serving four inter-city lines, three regional lines and a local commuter line.

Inaugurated last year with 18 high-speed trains in each direction, services will increase to 28 trains in each direction as new infrastructure and further phases of the station come on line enabling a further 200 regional and local train services to call at Napoli Afragola daily, creating the important interchange between the national, regional and local rail networks.

Developed to become a vital interchange between local, regional and national rail services, Napoli Afragola is within Italy’s new north/south high-speed rail corridor that will connect the 15 million residents of Campania, Puglia, Molise, Calabria and Sicily in southern Italy with the national high-speed rail network, as well as enable goods and passengers from Europe and northern Italy to easily access the southern ports of Gioia Tauro, Taranto, Bari, Brindisi, Palermo and Augusta.

Located 12km north of Naples, Napoli Afragola station is also planned to serve its local communities of Acerra, Afragola, Caivano, Casalnuovo di Napoli, and Casoria that vary in population from 10,000 to 50,000 residents.

The design enlarges the elevated walkway above the eight platforms to such a degree that it is transformed into the station’s main passenger concourse; creating an inhabited public bridge housing all the services and facilities for departing, arriving and connecting passengers, with direct access to all platforms below.Designed as an extruded trapezoid along its 450m curved path, the station’s elevated concourse is orientated at an angle from the railway tracks to improve its environmental performance. An integrated solar PV array, natural light and ventilation as well as ground source cooling/heating systems will enable the station to minimise energy consumption.

When all rail lines become operational, 32,700 passengers are expected to use the Napoli Afragola station every day (approximately 12 million passengers each year) with up to 4,800 local commuters using the station each morning and evening rush-hour.

zaha-hadid.com

The Latest

A Perfect Balance

A bespoke villa in Dubai Hills Grove designed by XBD Collective blends contemporary elegance with high-end craftsmanship

Soulful Sanctuary

Arch Home Interiors has crafted a boutique Pilates studio in Dubai Design District, creating an environment where movement meets self-care

Global Outlook, Local Presence

Henrique Dias, Principal and Middle East Hospitality Design Director for DLR Group, shares the firm’s growth journey in the region

Read ‘Greener Perspectives’ – Note from the editor – September 2025

Read identity magazine's September 2025 edition on ISSUU or grab your copy at the newsstands

identity Design Awards 2025 jury

Meet the judges for the identity Design Awards 2025

Five prominent designers have been selected to judge this year's milestone 11th annual identity Design Awards

Here are 14 Emirati women we admire in the design and creative industry

In honour of Emirati Women’s Day, we celebrate the visionary Emirati women in the industry that are pushing boundaries

Casa Cazaux

A Spanish Revival Reimagined in the Hollywood Hills

Casa Cazaux designed by Jordana Maisie Design Studio was inspired by Slim Aarons photography of post WWII Italian high society and Mediterranean-inspired coastal architecture

Kaskade by Karim Rashid for TREDEX Sara Group

TREDEX x Karim Rashid Introduce KASKADE

A Collection Where Flow Meets Form

identity Design Awards 2025 categories

identity Design Awards 2025 – The Categories

Here's a breakdown of the 21 categories we have for this year's identity Design Awards.

Vedra | Palm Jumeirah villa

Owning the Development Process

How Vedra, a Boutique Project Development Consultancy is Redefining Development in the UAE

Dual Key – A Game-Changing Concept for Owner/ Investors

Here's how you can become a landlord and live in your property at the same time.

Penthouse in Dubai Marina by Lulie Fisher Design Studio

A Penthouse Reimagined

Lulie Fisher Design Studio Completes a Penthouse in the Intercontinental Dubai Marina