Fenquin Mountain Railway Station

TAIWAN, 2003

The dramatic daily increase in population at the mid-day arrival of the mountain trains is clearly the problematic and propulsive event in the life of Fenquin. On the north side of the tracks, the existing bamboo forest would be preserved and expanded. Within it, the guest and public rooms of the bridge-hotel would be located as well as several integral — and manageable - paths up the hill. Step one is to create a rational means for the circulation of these visitors. The long train platform provides an armature for linear distribution and filtering into the town itself. Along this path we propose to align the entry and drop-off from the main highway, a travel and ticketing center (combined with a community hall in the old depot), a waiting area, a museum, and a café. Although the infrequency of train service allows the roadbed to be used for crossing, we would also include a “hotel-bridge” over the railway, providing a connection to the parking along the highway above, bringing greenery into the town, and forming a gateway for the arrival and departure of the train.

Credits: Michael Sorkin, Makoto Okazaki, Mirai Morita, Diego Wisnivesky