Mecanoo just completed the Taichung Green Corridor, Taiwan. The design reuses the 1.7km long former railway line to connect the different parts of the city in a sustainable way by creating a green corridor for biodiversity and including bike/pedestrian lanes to better cater for the needs of the community.



Sustainable life, sustainable history & culture
Although in the past the rail line functioned as way of connecting people, the disused railway acts more as a barrier due to its challenging location on the dyke, which impedes circulation from one side of the tracks to the other. The design reuses the rail line to connect the different parts of the city and include bike/pedestrian lanes to better cater for the needs of the community. Within this linear site, the sustainable development covered a wide range of planning and design factors including urban regeneration, public participation, historic preservation, green and water resources, and circulation routes for pedestrians and bikes. Relying on Mecanoo’s extensive urban planning experience, the design shapes a people-oriented green corridor, complementing the Green River’s waterfront.

Inspiration
To maintain the area’s strong historical character and set a coherent, recognisable theme for the project, the new circulation system layout relies on the track pattern of the junction railway. Based on the visual language of the railway infrastructure, the routes branch out to integrate the existing and future planned functions.



A destination for all
The green corridor will become a destination and invite users to explore and enjoy the green qualities of the park. Its urban location makes it an ideal place for leisure and recreational activities. The park is designed to intensify the use of the area for the local and wider Taichung community, while promoting
a more coherent city infrastructure.