It has been 20 years since the Metro system first established in Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei. As it is an underground system, the entrance to the station normally appears like a matchbox on the street like cities worldwide, without any opportunity to interact with external environment. With the extension plan of the existing network, an ambitious new line needles the city’s hot spots carried out by the city’s transport bureau. A proposed station site in the city’s biggest green field, the Da-an Forest Park, creates an great opportunity to introduce a new model for modern Metro station.

The proposed scheme carried out by the design team during competition was totally out of the juries’ expectation. Unlike the usual matchbox design, it is literally a station in the park. After a series of debates across several departments of the city, the brave decision was made by the mayor. In the long run, the ambitious idea were able to live up.

The proposal aims to transform the metro station from a passive transport service into a vibrant city hub, connecting people, environment and stimulating porosity. The tactic of embedding the station into the park creates a new gate to the park’s north side, which used to be a low active section of the main road. The park is now more accessible and the station becomes a comfortable linkage leading citizens to multiple destinations and activities.

The station tries to fit in the park, becomes part of the landform. A semi-circular sunken, stepping down to the station platform extends the park’s landscape into underground. It opens the dark tubular station to sunlight and fresh air. With the delicate arrangement of elevation control, layers of plaza, corridor and meeting place were created and the surrounding landscape will absorb any possible noise from the activities underground. When travelers alight, they will be driven by their biological instinct, seeking sunlight to lead the way to the park. That is the humane touch that brings surprise to citizens’ daily commute and ultimately a wonderful journey could be made.