Urban Stitch

Abstract

The history of Taiwan is closely attached to the establishment of transportation infrastructure. The thriving scene of urban Taiwan emerged in the 70s after the establishment of several national level infrastructure projects. They have become the backbone of both Taiwan's past economic glory as well the daily necessity of present society. As the technologies of transportation infrastructure has been advancing with time, it becomes a common trend of Taiwanese municipalities to renew its existing transportation infrastructure systems in order to boost up their city's image and advantage on competitiveness. Common practices of the renewal includes transferring the existing systems to either flyovers or underground.
However, inconsiderate planning practice of transportation infrastructure implementation could induce variety of urban problems. In fact, many of the existing spatial problems in urban Taiwan are the consequences of the implementation of these massive transportation infrastructure projects. Furthermore, many case studies has proven that the inconsiderate planning practice are vulnerable to socio-economic interference. Postponement or conflicts frequently occured as the consequence of fiscal pressure, change of political regime, or failure to include multiple actors in the implementation process. Therefore, it is concluded that the existing transportation infrastructure implementation process is detached with the real need of the urban environment, which is smaller scale of urban regeneration and inclusion of various actors presented in the transportation infrastructure renewal project.
Taiwan Railways Administration Taoyuan Railway Underground Project (shortened as TRA Taoyuan Project) is chosen as the case study of the thesis to further delve on the research of mentioned problem induced by transportation infrastructure. Existing urban problems in spatial, social, and economic aspects induced by the existing railway system will be unfolded. Future vulnerabilities that TRA Taoyuan Project would encounter during the implementation process will be predicted. To tackle the analyzed problems, urban design of the released corridor once occupied by the railway will be utilized as a method to encounter the concluded urban problems and further include the actions of demanded urban regeneration. Moreover, the research and design process conducted throughout the thesis will be documented and examined on its validity and potential to adopt into practice approach.