Hsinchu High-Speed Rail TOD Complex

Located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, this new mixed-use transit-oriented complex features two landmark office towers of 40 and 26 stories, flanking a sinuous, multilevel retail and entertainment complex that is directly connected to the city’s high-speed rail station. The large project site includes a variety of public park spaces with integrated landscape throughout.

As a major technological hub, Hsinchu is considered the Silicon Valley of Taiwan and, more recently, has also emerged as a center for the bioengineering industry. This new development’s location alongside the high-speed rail station makes a workday commute possible from the major cities of Taipei and Taichung—each about 90 kilometers away—fueling Hsinchu’s growing technology and bioengineering industries at a new urban center.

Located in northwestern Taiwan, Hsinchu is often referred to as the “city of wind,” and this moniker provided inspiration for the project. The design of the mixed-use development is defined by sweeping curves and flowing landscape throughout, reinforcing pedestrian connectivity between the high-speed rail station and the complex. The multilayered pedestrian design creates abundant public landscape and hardscape features throughout.

Providing a visual identity for the city upon arrival by rail was an important aspect of the design. As such, the two towers on the site serve as a landmark gateway, welcoming visitors, commuters and tourists from around the world to Hsinchu. At night, the tower crowns illuminate as a pair of beacons, promoting a sense of place on the skyline.  

Throughout the design process, a high-quality, healthy and interconnected user experience was central to the design team’s efforts. Several transition spaces link the project’s interior and exterior throughout the podium, connecting the retail atria with outdoor public gathering and event spaces. Floating bridges further link the buildings together, creating a multilevel, publicly accessible network in a landscaped, parklike environment. Serving as a destination for public events, the development will further become an urban landmark in the city and one of the region’s premier civic spaces.