On October 14th, Mecanoo's Kaohsiung Station was officially opened. The first train drove into the tunnel and the first phase of the canopy is now complete. While works continue underground, the next phases focus on the demolition of the existing platforms and tracks in order to create space for new streets. The viaduct will also be removed to enable the completion of the project.
As a key project for the city’s transformation, the above ground station has been designed to add valuable public green space and activate the local community. Kaohsiung Station’s central hall unfolds underneath a brightly lit patterned ceiling that is much more than a station entrance and becomes a public stage for the city.
The station’s large curvilinear shaped canopy reaches out to the city in a powerful gesture, acting as a green connector that unifies different modes of transport, and represents Kaohsiung’s vision for the future as a sustainable city.
The new Kaohsiung Station is the crowning achievement of the massive Kaohsiung Metropolitan Area Underground Railway Project, which includes seven subterranean stations along a 9.75 km railway tunnel. It will be a true transportation hub integrating train, metro, local and intercity bus services, taxi and bicycle.