China’s train stations are competing to be bigger than one another. Standing tall in the city like grand palaces, they are surrounded by large main roads, imposing viaducts, and often empty plazas. Rather than this pursuit of grand, monumental architecture, is it possible for urban train stations to create their own beautiful environment, with comfortable scales, and a blend of transport and urban functions that are both efficient and humane? Is it possible for train stations to be more than a stopover for travelers, but an urban public space that people can enjoy?
Ma Yansong
MAD's proposal drew inspiration from Jiaxing's history and culture. It includes a 1:1 rebuilding of the historic station building derived from archival investigations and a new underground train station.
MAD's project will be efficient, human-scaled, and abundant with natural light , while a basement level will contain extensive shopping areas under a redeveloped park, (will have two sunken waiting halls lit through skylights and glass curtain walls built on either side of existing overground platforms).
While the main transportation and commercial functions are to be located in the basement level, the ground-floor space will be given back to nature, freed from any infrastructure, creating thus a “train station in the forest”, and allowing “the People’s Park to radiate through the scheme into the city, and form an urban oasis”. In fact, the project seeks to put in place a “borderless park” where citizens and travelers can dwell and enjoy the beautiful natural environment, bringing the city center back to the people.
Upon completion, the overall passenger capacity is expected to reach 5.28 million people per year, with peak-time capacity reaching 2,300 people per hour.
