Downtown as park. MAD unveils new "Train Station in the Forest"
10/01/2021.
[Jiaxing] China
metalocus, MARÍA ANASTIDAS
metalocus, MARÍA ANASTIDAS
Chinese architecture studio MAD has just unveiled its design for “Train Station in the Forest,” located in the center of Jiaxing, China. Currently, it is under construction and scheduled for completion by July 1st, 2021.
The new station, which is sit in Jiaxing, a city in southeast China, in close proximity to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, rebuild a historical railway station and complement it with a new underground terminal, covering an area of 35.4 hectares.
The project also includes the creation of plazas and gardens to the north and south and the renovation of the adjacent People’s Park.
The new station, which is sit in Jiaxing, a city in southeast China, in close proximity to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, rebuild a historical railway station and complement it with a new underground terminal, covering an area of 35.4 hectares.
The project also includes the creation of plazas and gardens to the north and south and the renovation of the adjacent People’s Park.
Site plan. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Overview. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Ground floor plan. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Overview. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Axonometric. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Axonometric. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Axonometric. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Axonometric. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
"Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD
Construction process view. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD. Image courtesy of MAD
Construction process view. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD. Image courtesy of MAD
Construction process view. "Train Station in the Forest" by MAD. Rendering by MAD. Image courtesy of MAD
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.
More information
Architects
MAD Architects. Principal partners in charge.- Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano. Associate partners in charge.- Liu Huiying.
Design team
Cao Chen, Reinier Simons, Yao Ran, Fu Xiaoyi, Yu Lin, Chen Wei, He Shunpeng, Cheng Xiangju, Kaushik Raghuraman, Chen Nianhai, Deng Wei, Cao Xi, Sun Mingze, Huang Zhiyu, Zhang Kai, Li Zhengdong, Dayie Wu, Huai Wei, Claudia Hertrich, Liu Zifan, Xie Qilin, Alan Rodríguez Carrillo, Qiang Siyang, Hou Jinghui, Li Xinyun, Yin Jianfeng, Mathias Juul Frost, Lei Lei, Lu Zihao.
Collaborators
Executive architects.- Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd.
Structural consultant.- LERA Consulting Structural Engineers.
Facade consultant.- RFR Shanghai.
Landscape consultant.- Z'scape Landscape Planning and Design.
Lighting consultant.- Beijing Sign Lighting Industry Group.
Signage consultant.- NDC CHINA.
Heritage consultant.- Shanghai Shuishi Architectural Design & Planning Corp.
Interior design consultant.- Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute Co.
Structural consultant.- LERA Consulting Structural Engineers.
Facade consultant.- RFR Shanghai.
Landscape consultant.- Z'scape Landscape Planning and Design.
Lighting consultant.- Beijing Sign Lighting Industry Group.
Signage consultant.- NDC CHINA.
Heritage consultant.- Shanghai Shuishi Architectural Design & Planning Corp.
Interior design consultant.- Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute Co.
Client
Jiaxing Modernservice Industry Development & Investment (Group) Co.
Area
Site Area.- 354,000 sqm.
Building Area.- around 280,000 sqm.
Architects MAD
MAD Office, Beijing, China. MAD is a Beijing-based architecture design office dedicated to creating innovative projects. The firm combines a sophisticated design philosophy with advanced technology in addressing and furthering issues in contemporary architecture and urbanity.
The firm has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 Architectural League of New York's Young Architects Forum Award.
MAD's ongoing projects include the international competition-winning Absolute Tower in Toronto, Canada; The Tianjin Sinosteel International Plaza, a 320M tall tower in Tianjin, China; the Mongolian Museum in Inner Mongolia, China, and a private villa in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The firm has also won numerous international design competitions, including the 2006 Absolute Tower Competition in Toronto; the 2005 Solar Plaza Competition in Guangzhou, China, and the 2004 Shanghai National Software Outsourcing Base.
MAD's work has been published worldwide, and the office has also presented its designs in a series of exhibitions. In 2006, MAD was shown at the ‘MAD in China' exhibition in Venice during the Architecture Biennial, and the ‘MAD Under Construction' exhibition at the Tokyo Gallery in Beijing. In March of 2007, MAD will be shown at ‘MAD.exe' an exhibition at the Danish Architecture Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano and Qun Dand.
