Architecture

MAD's massive train station blends old and new

MAD's massive train station blends old and new
Train Station in the Forest is already well underway and expected to be completed in July
Train Station in the Forest is already well underway and expected to be completed in July
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Train Station in the Forest is located in Jiaxing, southeast China, and covers an area of 35.4 hectares (87 acres)
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Train Station in the Forest is located in Jiaxing, southeast China, and covers an area of 35.4 hectares (87 acres)
Train Station in the Forest was commissioned when the former station reached maximum capacity
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Train Station in the Forest was commissioned when the former station reached maximum capacity
Train Station in the Forest's underground area will be illuminated by natural light
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Train Station in the Forest's underground area will be illuminated by natural light
Train Station in the Forest will contrast the old-style museum building with the modern station
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Train Station in the Forest will contrast the old-style museum building with the modern station
Train Station in the Forest will feature sunken courtyard areas
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Train Station in the Forest will feature sunken courtyard areas
Train Station in the Forest will include retail space and restaurants
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Train Station in the Forest will include retail space and restaurants
Train Station in the Forest will include some greenery topped buildings
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Train Station in the Forest will include some greenery topped buildings
Train Station in the Forest involves the re-landscaping of an adjacent forested park
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Train Station in the Forest involves the re-landscaping of an adjacent forested park
MAD consulted with scholars, consultants and experts in heritage architecture for the Train Station in the Forest
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MAD consulted with scholars, consultants and experts in heritage architecture for the Train Station in the Forest
Train Station in the Forest is already well underway and expected to be completed in July
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Train Station in the Forest is already well underway and expected to be completed in July
View gallery - 10 images

Construction is underway on an ambitious new project by MAD Architects. It will involve the creation of a largely underground modern train station and the rebuilding of a historic train station building that will serve as a railway museum on the site, as well as re-landscaping public park space.

Train Station in the Forest is located in Jiaxing, southeast China, and covers a total area of 35.4 hectares (87 acres). It was commissioned when the former station reached maximum capacity and the surrounding area was deemed poorly planned. Rather than build a grand station that would take over the landscape, MAD had other ideas.

"China's train stations are competing to be bigger than one another," says the firm. "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?"

Train Station in the Forest will include some greenery topped buildings
Train Station in the Forest will include some greenery topped buildings

The project consists of the station and rail lines, a series of public plazas to the north and south, and the replanting of an adjacent forested park in collaboration with Z’scape Landscape Planning and Design. The station concourse, as well as platforms, a waiting hall, and commercial space, will be tucked away underground. Bus terminals, a tramway, and other transport links will be added and there's a degree of sustainable design planned too, with solar panels being installed to reduce the project's grid-based electricity usage and an overall focus on natural lighting. The renders also depict several greenery covered buildings.

The museum will be a faithful homage to the original Jiaxing Train Station, which was a transport link used in China's First Party Congress of the ruling communist government in 1921 but was destroyed in 1937. MAD consulted with experts in heritage architecture, and studied old photographs in a bid to get as close as possible to its original appearance.

Train Station in the Forest is located in Jiaxing, southeast China, and covers an area of 35.4 hectares (87 acres)
Train Station in the Forest is located in Jiaxing, southeast China, and covers an area of 35.4 hectares (87 acres)

Though it doesn't look that far along in the photographs provided, the project is expected to be completed in July, says MAD. Once completed, the station is expected to host 5.28 million passengers per year.

Source: MAD

View gallery - 10 images
4 comments
4 comments
Worzel
At last, architects that do something other than 'make a statement' maybe.
Aross
It is amazing to see how much the money we spend on cheaply made imports from China ends up in the very modern developments there. Maybe if we brought some of that manufacturing capacity back to North America, we too could have more of this type of modernization here.
BlueOak
“The museum will be a faithful homage to the original Jiaxing Train Station, which was a transport link used in China's First Party Congress of the ruling communist government”

It likely did not take a Chinese Architectural firm to recognize the importance, when doing govt projects, to pay proper homage to the CCP.
buzzclick
I counted about 25 cranes in the construction site!
There are many people who have a lot of reasons to dislike/distrust China whether falsely biased or factually true, but you gotta admit the social sense of cooperation in their society is focused primarily on the collective good. We here in the West are more preoccupied with individualistic mindsets, so our endeavors are spread out. Since our general population density is a fraction of theirs, we can and do indulge ourselves in our freedoms. With almost 1.4 billion people, they cannot afford to have the luxuries we enjoy. What they are achieving is truly remarkable.