TAICHUNG'S GREEN CORRIDOR REVITALISES CITY

The plans for the Taichung Green Corridor, released by Mecanoo, show the redevelopment of the 1.7km-long disused railway line that crosses to downtown Taichung. The project seeks to create a sustainable, thriving community and recreation space embedded in the city’s history and culture.

The corridor will feature a range of public amenities, including a herb garden, fitness equipment, playground, open space and a water park. The scheme will also act as a thoroughfare for citizens to connect to different areas of the city while complementing the banks of the Green River.

The green corridor was defined by Mecanoo as, “A continuous public park in the centre of the city, which will support the conservation and development of the area’s flora and fauna, improve connections for pedestrians and bike users in Taichung centre, and integrate existing and newly added functions to the area into a coherent linear park.”

The historical value of the city will be maintained by placing emphasis on the railway’s heritage implications. By revitalising the line, the historical and urban functions of the city will seamlessly merge together. The circulation system will act as the main ‘theme’ of the project and will follow the railway’s track pattern with routes branching off along the line to allude to the infrastructure of the old rail.

"In the past, the rail line was a means of connection, the disused railway [now] acts more as a divider due to its challenging location on the dyke, which impedes the circulation from one side of the tracks to the other," said Mecanoo. The company's aim is to breach this divide by creating the green corridor that will connect all areas of the city. 

The corridor will become a “destination” for locals and tourists alike and will encourage visitors to explore and embrace the different areas of the park while embracing community cohesion.

Mecanoo will be relying of their 30 years of experience in order to take on this project, as the construction process will prove to be challenging due to urban regeneration, historic preservation and green and water resources along the river.

The green corridor is not just planned to be a public space but will also act as a significant environmental beacon. The green corridor will also revitalise the environment, increase tree coverage, establish an ecotourist discourse and develop sustainable forestry.

In collaboration with S.D. Atelier and ARIA architect & planners, Mecanoo designed the scheme in 2017, with plans to start construction in 2018.