Helsinki, Finland. Opened in 1919, this iconic Art Nouveau train station serves around 250,000 passengers daily, making it Finland‘s busiest building. Designed by renowned architect Eliel Saarinen, father of Eero Saarinen (famous for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis), the station is clad in striking red-brown Finnish granite. Its most notable features are the Lyhdynkantajat, or “lantern bearers,”—two pairs of massive statues flanking the main entrance, each holding a lantern. In 2001, a modern glass and steel roof by Esa Piiroinen was added over the central platforms, providing shelter for travelers.
