Platinum Urban Planning and Urban Design · 2021
Impression of Railway Park
by Ching-I Wu
- A' Design Award 2021 Platinum Winner in Urban Planning and Urban Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: S.D. Atelier Design and Planning
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 197,925
- Verification code 5404F324CA · Verify this award
About Impression of Railway Park
Impression of Railway is an urban park developed around Taichung Railway Station in Taiwan. The park covers 15287.57 square meters and was completed in February 2020. Closed railway facilities are converted into a public recreational area, including an eco-museum devoted to railway heritage. A green corridor for pedestrians links historical and cultural sites in the central, western, eastern and southern parts of the city. Four themed half-day routes start from the station. The plan preserves local history and improves public facilities.
This remarkable urban intervention, recognized with the prestigious A' Design Award Platinum distinction, exemplifies the transformative potential of infrastructure as catalyst for public realm enhancement, demonstrating how the elevation of rail lines can liberate ground-level territory for civic enjoyment while simultaneously preserving essential transportation functions. Ching-I Wu's design achieves what might be termed infrastructural alchemy, converting what was formerly a barrier bisecting urban fabric into a connective green spine that invites strolling, gathering, and quiet contemplation beneath the protective canopy of mature trees. The compositional intelligence evident in this aerial documentation reveals carefully calibrated sight lines, with pedestrian paths meandering in gentle curves that create discovery and variety while historic rail elements preserved at grade serve as heritage markers grounding the contemporary intervention in collective memory. The retention of traditional temple structures within the immediate context speaks to a design philosophy that honors existing cultural landmarks rather than displacing them, weaving sacred spaces into the secular parkland in ways that enrich both. Technically, the project demonstrates sophisticated understanding of microclimate management, with tree placement appearing strategic for shade provision during warm months while pathway materials suggest careful attention to permeability and thermal comfort. The elevated viaduct itself, rendered in clean contemporary concrete with rhythmic column spacing, achieves an aesthetic dignity that transforms necessity into sculptural presence, its horizontal datum providing spatial definition while allowing visual and physical permeability at grade. One might consider how this project models possibilities for cities worldwide grappling with aging rail corridors, suggesting that infrastructure investment and public realm enhancement need not be competing priorities but rather mutually reinforcing dimensions of enlightened urban stewardship.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- 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.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The project is 15287.57 square meter.
- Tags
- Urban Landscape, Planning, Design, Park, Public Facility
- Production Technology
- 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.
- Design Challenge
- 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.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in February 2020 in Taichung, Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- This urban development strategy, as a crucial municipal construction based on public participation, was initiated by people advocating the preservation of the old railway afterwards implemented by municipality, thus presenting a new paragon of landscape urbanism. The Eco-Museum composed of the century-old heritage of railway culture renovates the closed railway facilities into an urban recreational area with diverse features of ecology, culture, life, etc.
- Research
- 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.
- Inspiration
- 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.
- Image Credits
- Image #1-2: Photographer His-Shan Wang, Railway of Impression, 2020.
Image #3-5: Photographer Chi-Ming Wu, Railway of Impression, 2020.