L’architecture it can promote social inclusion, improve quality of life and reflect the cultural identity of a place. When architects manage to combine the historical with the contemporary, they not only preserve the legacy of the past, but also open a dialogue with the future, creating functional and meaningful spaces. This comprehensive and sensitive approach can transform ordinary buildings into cultural and community landmarks. This is where the old railway station “in the Forest” designed by MAD studio in Jiaxing, China.
Remembering the past while looking to the future
There Train Station in the Forest it is a new train station recently created by the MAD architecture studio. To make it happen they were combined historical and contemporary elementsdemonstrating how architectural design can integrate past and future to create functional and culturally enriching spaces. “We wanted – they explained from the architecture studio – for the entire experience to be more cultural, more contextual. The two elements form a collage: there is a historical moment and a modern moment, and they coexist.”
The station is located in Jiaxing (China) and is an ebuilding of 354,000 m2 which stands out for harmoniously combine historical and contemporary elements. The station’s design includes a full-scale replica of a historic station built in 1907 and destroyed by bombing in 1937. This reconstruction forms the northern entrance to the station and leads to two underground waiting rooms.
The design not only seeks to honor the past, but also to reflect the movement and dynamism of modern life. “We wanted to make a station that reminds people of the history or stories of this place, to continue this legacy and create something more for the future,” they underlined from the studio.
The goal of this project was to challenge the existing model of train stations in China, which are monumental and formal, and which can make passengers feel overwhelmed. This led studio MAD to design a smaller and more accessible stationtrying to make passengers feel more at ease and less pressured.
Spaces that promote freedom
The station’s transit spaces are largely underground, freeing up the ground floor for public use. On the north side of the station, an existing public park was expanded to create an urban green space around the entrance. On the south side there is a commercial area and green areas that can be used for events and events. This provision aims to encourage broader community usage and an enriching emotional experience for users.
The idea was to create spaces that promote freedom and well-being in the urban environment. “Providing space is one thing, but it’s not enough. We believe that in public space, when people use it, they need to discover how they feel about themselves and the world,” they said from the studio. Glass facades and large skylights allow natural light to flood the space, giving travelers the chance to admire the historic elements integrated into the structure.
The project also highlights the importance of beauty and community in the design of public spaces. Compare the experience of an airport with that of an opera house, highlighting that both have specific objectives, but must offer more to their users. “We think everyone should share something. Openness, community, artistic sensitivity to emotions and time, all this is important for public space,” they concluded from MAD.
