Kaohsiung Station, Taiwan
In July 2016, the Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo Architecten unveiled plans for a new Kaohsiung Station in Taiwan. It is to be the centrepiece of the vast Kaohsiung Metropolitan Area Underground Railway Project, a transportation hub which includes seven subterranean stations along a 9.75 km railway tunnel.
The 8.5 hectare site includes 13,000 sq. m of sunken station plaza, as well as a 35,000 sq. m 'green canopy' designed to add valuable public space and activate the local community.
Adopting the tradition of lanterns that light the main square in front of temples, where the most important events in Taiwanese villages take place, Kaohsiung Station's central hall is a sunken plaza that unfolds underneath a bright ceiling of oval-shaped lights. The immersive space will create a memorable experience for travellers.
The large curvilinear canopy acts as a 'green connector', unifying bus, bike and train transport, and representing Kaohsiung's mission to become a sustainable city. It protects the open public plaza underneath from Kaohsiung's tropical climate in the same way as large trees.
The green space will become a meeting place, a site for events or markets. Designed as a destination rather than merely an efficient mobility hub, the station's canopy connects a hotel, commercial building, shops, restaurants and other facilities.
The colonial Japanese station building, which will be relocated, is embraced by the canopy and symbolically reconnects the old and new Kaohsiung.
The station is expected to be completed by 2024.
Images and content courtesy of Mecanoo Architecten.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.