Whenever you wander through a train station during your travel trips, take a minute to look around you.
While many are built only to be practical, other train stations around the world have become landmarks of the cities they service, designed by renowned architects.
However, some of these iconic buildings were criticized for being far too extravagant when they first opened, such as Antwerp's Antwerpen-Centraal Station (Belgium), where 20 different types of marble and stone were used in a stunning architectural style.
Japan's Kanazawa Station sparked outrage when it opened in 2005, due to its stark contrast with the well-preserved historical town.
Many historical stations have been updated and restored, and now feature a combination of old and new styles, particularly evident at Gare de Strasbourg station, where a glass canopy now entirely covers the original 1880s building.
Similarly, London's Kings Cross Station, originally opened in 1852 and designed by Lewis Cubitt, was refurbished with the new Western Concourse featuring a large steel structure opening in 2012.
Here’s a video of the grand opening in 2012 of the award winning Kings Cross Station. Enjoy! Seemingly since Lebanon will probably never boast the likes of such transportation hubs in the near (read:distant) future.