Towards an Opening
– Mohan High-speed Railway Station at the Border
Academic project by a team of two individuals: MA Rui, AN Chengyu, instructed by SHI Jingsong, at school of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Sep 2021 – Nov 2021. The selected documents below are mostly my individual contributions to the project reorganized by me. My role in the teamwork included context research, concept pitching and modeling, featured rendering, part of layout modification, and actively coordinating the teamwork.
Key words: Form-finding Design, Structural Aesthetics, Green Architecture, Local Landscape and Culture.
The town of Mohan, located in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, is known for its Dai ethnic population and serves as a key hub for Sino-foreign exchanges through its national port. As part of a broader economic development plan, Mohan is set to construct a railway and high-speed rail station, aiming to enhance its connectivity. Yet, beyond economic growth, how will this station impact the daily lives of locals and the promotion of their cultural heritage?
In Dai culture, the peacock symbolizes happiness and good fortune, with many people raising them at home. The peacock dance is a beloved and well-known traditional dance among the Dai people. Bamboo is also integral to Dai culture, with weaving skills passed down through generations. Mohan Town, situated in the tropics, enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate year-round due to its location in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, making it a haven for tropical plants. Ultimately, the integration of these cultural and natural elements led a concept focused on form-finding.
Exterior structure: The building’s exterior features suspended structures supported by steel cables, creating a visually light design. To manage the large flow of people, departing traffic is directed through a suspended bridge on the second floor, while the ground floor handles arrivals.
Envelop enclosure: Choosing a membrane covering helps reduce direct sunlight, preventing overheating, while allowing natural diffuse light to enter the space comfortably. Meanwhile, at some parts of the rooftop, different type of glass canopy can bring about different micro-climate effects.
In Mohan’s tropical monsoon climate, the town’s abundant rainforest landscapes inspired the inclusion of tropical gardens within the station. These gardens not only offer travelers a chance to immerse themselves in Mohan’s unique rainforest scenery but also help regulate the building’s indoor microclimate. Along with the different types of glass canopy applied, the interior ambiance of the station can somehow maintain an equilibrium which brings comfort to travelers.
MA RUI 