For 200 years, the Metro has been carrying out most of the passenger traffic in large cities and metropolitan areas. The metro architecture embodies cultural ideals, historical milestones and the achievements of society in various fields. The metro is the transport frame of the city, participates in the formation of the urban ensemble. Sustainable development of the metro requires a comprehensive study of its architecture, analysis of domestic and foreign analogues: the prerequisites and chronology of metro development, identification of concepts, directions, principles and techniques of the architectural formation of metro objects. A systematic approach to architectural analysis and design of the metro, identifying the importance of the role of an architect allows to determine the prospects and vectors for the development of transport infrastructure, improve the quality and safety of passenger traffic, design energy-efficient, autonomous, economical, aesthetic and ergonomic metro stations. The high rates of modern metro design require the development of measures to preserve the unity of the metro lines and communication with the city space. Systematization and classification of trends in the development of metro architecture in the period from 1823 to 2000 will allow to determine the arsenal of architectural techniques, to develop urban planning approaches to the architectural solution of the stations