Firm： S.D. Atelier design & planning

Type： Transport + Infrastructure › Train/Subway Highway

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2020

SIZE： 100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

BUDGET： $5M - 10M

Taichung, a city born by the construction of railways. Since the opening of Taiwan Trunk Line has opened to traffics in Taichung in 1908, the development of entire city has emerged accordingly. The development of Taichung City is linked to the growth of railways. The heart of Taichung, after centuries, is changing through the developments and constructions in other areas, discovering the role of the old city of Taichung in the future urban plan.

The development of this project awakens the local citizens to preserve history and culture. The government, meanwhile, hopes to renovate the image of city with the magnificent cultural assets. Believe to make Taichung, a city full of culture and life, rise again.

Goal

Taichung Railway Station symbolizes the origin of Taichung city. Its surrounding area is exclusive in historical significance. After the railways are being elevated and transformed into the rapid transit systematization, the areas under the viaducts and surrounding the station are redeveloped by implementing the flagship plan that, based on stitching the urban space and preserving the city’s historical features, connects the historical and cultural assets in the central, western, eastern, and southern Taichung City, as well as the urban stitching plan.

The green corridor plan, additionally, connects Gangcheng and the sugar factory on the north, and Martial Arts Hall and the Japanese-style dormitory on the south. The areas surrounding Taichung Railway Station are integrated in aspects of urban environment, land use, industrial activity, urban image, and architectural landscape.

The designers integrated areas around Taichung Railway Station with urban environment, land utilization, industries development, urban image and cityscapes. The integration reorganizes the resources, reforms the surrounding environment and improves the quality of public facilities with the cultural and pedestrian-friendly urban corridor, which enriches the cultural development of the city centre.

As for the implementation and improvement of the plans discussed above, Jinde Road is to be extended, Fuxing Land Bridge is to be demolished so that the road is reopened to traffic, Dazhi Road is to be connected Wude Street, the underpass of Guoguang Road is to be filled up so that the road is reopened to traffic, Jianguo Land Road is to be demolished, etc. Therefore, the visual landscape surrounding the base and the station will be wider, thus creating new images to recreation, business, and transfer station. More people are coming here, thus stimulating regional economy and reshaping the scene of the old city district.

Environment

The base of this project is 1.6 kilometers in length. Regarding the railways are being elevated and transformed into the Rapid Transit Systematization, the revitalizing plan is proposed to renovate the old railway space. The base encompasses the land of old railway, the service space of the railway station, surrounding buildings, etc. This place has bountiful resources of culture, history, and railway facilities. On the north area is the old railway space, where is adjoining the ecological park of Empire Sugar Factory, the warehouses on Xinmin Street (warehouses of Taiwan Railway), the old and new Jianguo Market, and the Gangcheng business district. On the middle area is the transfer service space of Taichung Railway Station, where includes the old Taichung Railway Station (a national cultural heritage encompassing the front station, rear station, and platform), and the railway facilities such as warehouse No.20, warehouse No.27, and Taiwan Railway dormitory. Because of the railway station, it had gathered people and activities such as business industry, cram school, service industry, passenger transportation, and cargo transportation to its surrounding. Remaining the south side, where the local lifestyle and events are held near, as the old railway space, as well as the essential water culture along the Green River. Due to the terrain on the southern area, people can see the distinguishing railway landscapes such as iron bridges and retaining walls. By integrating the site condition and the future plan, this project revitalizes the old railway space that is transformed into the captivating sightseeing spot with new image.

Expected Benefits

Green corridor, as a medium, will attract numerous people and bring them to different historical sites. There will be four different themes of half-day sightseeing tours, including art exhibition, Japanese-style dormitory, plain life along Green River, and cycling. Every need of sightseeing can be satisfied by visiting here. All these four routes of sightseeing start from Taichung Railway Station. Different routes may have different spots, every route nevertheless has one essential place where tourists can experience the local culture and food. The final spot of each tour is accessible to other business districts in Taichung City. Tourists are free to decide if they want to prolong their half-day tours.

Taichung City Government actively reviews and improves the connections between cycling routes and pedestrian walkways, and ensures visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the walking pathway.