Located next to the Kaohsiung Port in Yancheng District of Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung Port Station is a huge, 15.42 hectares long, old site to the rail yards forming a barrier between two of the most important areas of the city the Hamasen and Yancheng districts. Owing to the historical importance of the site, the city government of Kaohsiung organized a design competition to transform the old rail yard into an urban landscape. The design that stood out from the rest of the participants and won the Excellence Award at the competition was conceptualized by the AGER Group’s Boston Studio.
Led by Jessica Leete, AGER Group’s design proposal is an excellent example of preserving the heritage of the site and at the same time turn into an urban developmental area. To achieve their goal, AGER proposed a three phased design project for the redevelopment of the site. Each of these phases concentrate on different aspects of the historical Kaohsiung Port Station.
Phase one of the project involves three strategies to give a new identity to the site. As the Kaohsiung Port Station is an integral part of the history of evolving Taiwan railway, the designers proposed a transportation and industry museum on the site, thus preserving the historical elements of the site. They also proposed that the railway could be used by the public or during times of special events. The remnant of the rail yard was to be converted into a rail-scape park corridor, dotted with sculptures, restaurants, retail outlets and the old sugar warehouses converted into creative industry lofts.
Phase two of the proposal talks about the establishment of a iconic luxury hotel, which would include a conference room and apartments for executives. AGER suggests that this iconic hotel should be designed by a well known architect so as to bring recognition to the area and thus attract more tourists to the rail-scape park corridor and also investors for the phase three of the project.
AGER proposes a series of residential buildings, which would have a typology similar to that of the one in the Hamasen district in its third phase of design. Along with that the site would also house a number of commercial complexes, public areas and civic spaces to bring together the people of the nearby areas.
Designed in phases AGER’s proposal for the redevelopment of the Kaohsiung Port Station is a well thought out plan that makes best use of the available elements of the heritage site. Not only that AGER’s proposal also takes care of the soil conditions, re-usability of the buildings and recovery from disasters making it very sustainable and practical.
Via: Bustler
