Regeneration of Disused Transport Infrastructure

Rather than demolishing and building anew, the revitalisation and greening of deserted transit infrastructure is becoming increasingly commonplace in dense, fast-growing cities.

Jiaxing Train Station in China by MAD Architects and Taichung Green Corridor in Taiwan by Mecanoo are two examples of reusing existing infrastructure to rejuvenate the urban realm. By recreating a train station or renovating railway tracks and the surrounding areas, the architects worked towards the goal of achieving urban renewal by upgrading the travel experience of users, improving the quality of life of residents and enhancing the appearance of their respective cities.

What were once neglected infrastructures that served as a barrier to movement are now open, welcoming and sustainable spaces integrating and connecting the city. The operational efficiency and aesthetics of the areas are boosted and people’s daily lives are enriched.

Redefining the train station in China, Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, was the man behind the country’s first fully sunken railway station, which involved both reconstruction and expansion. He pointed out, “We need to learn from such experiences in the development of Chinese cities, that the ultimate objectives of design and planning are driven by cultural understanding and vision. This will allow us to break the boundary of architectural design that only considers the design of a solo building, a single function, one object. Lots of projects now in our cities are complex issues. They need a certain creativity in troubleshooting: we are not designing an object, but renovating a social reality.”

READ MORE: Jiaxing Train Station by MAD Architects

Jiaxing Train Station by MAD Architects | FuturArc

Competing to outdo one another, China’s train stations tower over its cities like grand palaces, surrounded by large main roads, imposing viaducts and often empty plazas. But instead of pursuing monumental architecture, Beijing-based MAD Architects asks if it is possible for urban train stations to…

READ MORE: Taichung Green Corridor by Mecanoo

Taichung Green Corridor by Mecanoo | FuturArc

Boasting extensive urban planning experience, Delft-based architecture firm Mecanoo transformed a 1.7-kilometre-long disused railway track crossing downtown Taichung, the second most populous city of Taiwan—which once served as an important catalyst for the growth of the old city—into a dynamic line…

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