radiating paving and green roofs recast xuzhou rail station as urban gateway and public realm

"Rather than masking this infrastructural complexity, the design treats it as the basis for a three-dimensional public realm. Within the master plan, a major green corridor extends toward the station. The plaza marks the terminal point of this axis, redefining the forecourt as a civic threshold rather than a residual transfer space."

"Linear landform architecture frames the station building, establishing directional clarity and spatial depth. Calibrated paving geometries radiate toward the facade, reinforcing the station's role as an urban gateway while referencing Xuzhou's historic identity as a regional crossroads."

"To activate the site beyond peak transit periods, the design team at ARTS GROUP embeds two commercial street volumes within the plaza structure. Configured in an hourglass plan, these blocks modulate the scale of the forecourt and introduce daily amenities for commuters and nearby residents."

Xuzhou East Station Plaza, designed by ARTS GROUP, repositions a high-speed railway forecourt serving 13.8 million annual passengers into an integrated urban public space. Located at a major rail corridor junction, the original station efficiently managed vehicular circulation but lacked pedestrian integration and civic presence. The redesign treats the site's complex multi-level infrastructure—including underground parking, metro connections, and multiple station entrances—as the foundation for a three-dimensional public realm. A green corridor extends toward the station, with the plaza marking its terminus and redefining the forecourt as a civic threshold. Linear landform architecture and calibrated paving geometries establish spatial clarity and reinforce the station's role as an urban gateway. Commercial street volumes embedded within the plaza structure activate the space beyond peak transit periods, modulate forecourt scale, and provide daily amenities for commuters and residents.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine