Nfitz (+ TKTKTK): if the 1954 Yonge Line still had Vitrolite in its near-entirety, would you still be making such arguments?
I think we should be preserving a couple exemplary examples of our subway architecture as heritage spots. Others should be renovated as needed, with an eye towards creating engaging and user-friendly spaces. If no Vitrolite stations exist any longer (do they?) then we should renovate one back to that state. I think Wellesley is a prime candidate for restoration, it has the whole exterior intact.
Otherwise, bring on the dragons at St. George!
They could imagine the tunnel approach as the Dragon's mouth swallowing the train whole. You disembark right inside the Dragon, ribs arcing above, the tip of a sword pierces the roof and hides an elevator. Everyone waits, sitting on rounded benches in deep reds and pinks. A boney looking staircase leads to the surface.
Museum should have been an archaeological dig-theme at the fare level, showing bones being uncovered and the entrance to an underground passage, leading down a dark twisting staircase and entering into a bright and gold-covered temple. Animatronic archeologists dismantle some of the plating near the ceiling on the west wall, putting it into sacks to be carried back up. On the north platform wall, slaves pry the rubies from the eyes of a giant idol whose mouth opens periodically to allow passengers to disembark from the elevator. Statues and piles of gold coins and chalices lie in piles in the jail, now redone in ornate gold bars - sticks of dynamite wrapped around the locked gate, ready for a light.
They write themselves. Honestly, and all they could come up with was vitrolite, tiles, and coded colours?