Design of a Railway Station: Creative Expression of Cultural Heritage Identity

Abstract

By the mid-nineteenth century, the railway had established itself as an essential part of life in the industrial era, and the railway station took on an increasingly characteristic appearance. Architects have amended the industrial aspect of the train sheds through a more traditional façade design. The station buildings are fighting for a place among the league of theatres, museums, and city halls. The role of embellishments is mostly neglected in governance policies for railway stations, even though the architecture and spatial planning are considered. The visual design is monographic and ignores the context of visitors. Establishing the diverse iconography that must develop for decoration of railway stations is a part of an extensive study to showcase cultural heritage with creativity. City marketing has grown into an established field of research and an academic subdiscipline. This article explores visual design elements of the Kamakhya Railway Station that acts as a gateway to the Indian city Guwahati of Assam for people with the intent of visiting the Kamakhya temple. The study proposes a suggestion for the railway station’s visual design with a focus on tourism. Finally, it points to areas for further research and exploration.