Over the past twenty years, Taiwan has transformed its aboveground railway system into an underground transport network involving various cities on the island. It is in this context that Mecanoo’s new underground Taoyuan Station project is situated, designed to mark the central axis of the city and aspiring to better connect its southern and northern parts, mending the disruptions in the urban fabric caused by the old aboveground tracks. Located in the old city center, the new station appears as a large covered plaza, featuring commercial spaces, a metro, a bus station, and various underground railway lines.

The project’s concept is based on Taoyuan’s proximity to Taipei and its reputation as the Airport City, thus a large canopy reminiscent of an origami airplane has been developed, extending over three volumes and two voids, well connected at the underground level. The vertical structural elements are divided into slimmer components, creating a sense of lightness that supports the large canopy, which provides shade and shelter for the public space, addressing the subtropical climate of the area and integrating this infrastructure into the city’s urban fabric.