Submitted by Casira Copes, who says:

This is an image done by Renzo Picasso, the late Italian engineer and architect. He specialized in urban design and transit drawings, which I thought might be interesting for your blog! I’m currently working at the Archivio Renzo Picasso in Genoa, Italy where our goal is to expose his work to more people. He was not very well-known in his lifetime, but his drawings are pretty fascinating! He did traditional maps, 3D projections of various subway systems, and even some futuristic city plans for places like NYC! 

Check out www.renzopicasso.com if you’re interested in learning more about the artist.

Transit Maps says:

This awesome cutaway of Piccadilly Circus station by Renzo Picasso is one of the most popular posts on the site, so I’m thrilled to share another great cutaway by the artist – and submitted by his official archive as well!

This diagram is very interesting as it seems to show the BMT Nassau Street line as it would appear after the extension south from Chambers Street – connecting it to the Montague Street Tunnel – was constructed. This tunnel opened in 1931, and the diagram clearly states that it is “currently in construction”, so a date of around 1930 seems reasonable. 

Interestingly, the diagram shows a flyover track from Chambers Street to the Brooklyn Bridge. As far as I know, this was never constructed, although it shows up in plans for the station as far back as 1908. The bi-level Fulton Street station (with the northbound platform stacked directly beneath the southbound one) is also clearly seen.

Technically, this is just as beautifully drawn as the Piccadilly Circus cutaway, if a little less immediately dramatic. Mr. Picasso was a heck of a draftsman, that’s for sure!