This study aims to redefine railway stations as climate-resilient urban hubs amidst deepening climate crises and increasing urban infrastructure complexity, and to establish the structure of a GIS and parametric design interlinked architectural collab...
This study aims to redefine railway stations as climate-resilient urban hubs amidst deepening climate crises and increasing urban infrastructure complexity, and to establish the structure of a GIS and parametric design interlinked architectural collaborative process to realize this goal. Through an analysis of major complex station megaprojects—including Stuttgart Main Station(SMS) in Germany, the Salesforce Transit Center(STC) in the San Francisco, and West Kowloon Station(WKS) in Hong Kong the research elucidates how climate-based data structures the collaboration and is transformed into design variables within the architectural and urban planning decision-making process. The research methodology proceeded in the following sequence: establishment of a climate-based analytical framework: Integration of legal/institutional, environmental, and urban infrastructure factors. analysis of phased collaborative procedures: examination of GIS data and the step-by-step collaboration based on urban and climate characteristics. Comparative analysis of unique architectural structural systems: comparison of the distinct structural systems(column-centric, facade-centric, and roof-centric structures) inherent to each case. Systematization of the parametric design variable derivation process: Integration of the preceding steps into a structured design process. The research yielded three core findings: First, preemptive regulatory frameworks based on climate data are essential. The study confirmed that establishing preemptive legal and institutional frameworks based on climate, terrain, and environmental data is a prerequisite for advancing megaprojects. Common structural patterns emerged across the cases, all demonstrating a "climate-preemptive regulatory setting": the protection of wind corridors in SMS, the enhancement of seismic and flood standards in STC, and the design for inundation and typhoon durability in WKS. Second, GIS based analysis functions as a climate specific diagnostic system. GIS-based urban environmental analysis functions as a problem-diagnosis system specialized for the climate and topography of each case, serving as a reference point for consensus and strategic adjustment among collaborating stakeholders. The differences in structural backgrounds—basin-type(SMS), hilly-type(STC), and coastal lowland-type(WKS)—determined distinct design variables. Third, climate analysis results are integrated into structural systems and transformed via parametric design. The climate-based analysis results are concretized into integrated structural systems(represented by the column–facade–roof elements) specific to each hub. The process of their actual transformation into architectural design via parametric design was confirmed, proving that climate-responsive strategies involve a collaborative and structured design process. Based on this analysis, the study proposes a standard structure for a GIS and parametric design interlinked collaborative process for the creation of climate-resilient urban hubs. This is a multidisciplinary structure that integrates law, data, environment, design, and operation, providing a practical framework applicable to the planning and design phases of future major railway station and urban infrastructure developments. The following areas are suggested for future refinement and supplementation, which are essential for expanding the proposed collaborative process to various domestic and international urban infrastructure projects: Refinement of institutional and spatial data for domestic application. Strengthening the Reliability of parametric design interpretation models. Dynamic process research to respond to changes in collaborating stakeholders, given the nature of long-term urban projects. Development of a real-time urban data based feedback structure for the operational phase.
The research findings are threefold:
1) SMS, due to its branched locational characteristics, faced complex urban environmental issues such as flooding from heavy rain, rising groundwater levels, and atmospheric stagnation. Development was driven by the goal of restructuring the city toward a carbon-neutral structure. The strategy involved relocating the above-ground railway tracks underground to secure new urban space and converting the above-ground area into a green axis, reconfiguring the ‘Urban Void’ into an ecological space. The integrated mediating structure of SMS was planned as a column-centered structure, linking the underground space with the urban environment. Natural ventilation for the underground concourse and platforms was integrated into the column interiors, ensuring air circulation and connecting with the upper green axis to create a wind path.
2) STC is a central axis of complex transport and urban development, built as part of the Transbay program. Located on unstable ground traversed by the San Andreas Fault, STC faced complex natural disaster risks like earthquakes and the urban heat island effect. Development was initiated as an ecological transition project aimed at building a climate-responsive urban infrastructure and achieving carbon neutrality. STC was defined as an 'Urban Interface' where complex urban functions intersect, integrating transport, ecology, and mixed-use functions into a single adaptive system. The integrated mediating structure of STC was planned as an envelope-centered structure, expanding into an Ecological Buffer that manages natural lighting, ventilation, indoor temperature, and energy circulation. A complex louver system on the envelope, linked to real-time climate data, controls solar radiation, while integrated natural ventilation cells automatically regulate indoor air flow. The 22,000㎡ rooftop park mitigates the urban heat island effect and forms an ecological buffer, connecting the upper green axis with the lower transportation network. This structure integrated movement, stay, and circulation within the city into a single ‘data-physical complex system’.
3) WKS and its surrounding area exhibit climatic characteristics such as typhoons, heavy rain, flooding, sea-level rise, and the heat island effect. Accordingly, development was pursued with the goal of carbon neutrality centered on climate-responsive ecological infrastructure. The integrated mediating structure of WKS was planned as a roof-centered structure, implementing the concept of an ‘Urban Canopy’ that links the curved roof to the city’s ecological axis. The roof, supported by a V-truss structure, was developed as a rooftop park, connecting with the central green axis of the WKCD to establish an urban green network. This spatial structure mitigates strong winds during typhoons through its curved form and prevents flooding via an internal roof drainage system, also performing a regulating function to reduce summer temperatures. The concourse and transfer spaces applied façade panels for natural light influx and ventilation systems.
The process of their actual transformation into architectural design via parametric design was confirmed, proving that climate-responsive strategies involve a collaborative and structured design process. Based on this analysis, the study proposes a standard structure for a GIS and parametric Design interlinked collaborative process for the creation of climate-resilient urban hubs. This is a multidisciplinary structure that integrates law, data, environment, design, and operation, providing a practical framework applicable to the planning and design phases of future major railway station and urban infrastructure developments. The following areas are suggested for future refinement and supplementation, which are essential for expanding the proposed collaborative process to various domestic and international urban infrastructure projects: Refinement of Institutional and Spatial Data for domestic application. Strengthening the Reliability of parametric design interpretation models. Dynamic process research to respond to changes in collaborating stakeholders, given the nature of long-term urban projects. Development of a real-time urban data based feedback structure for the operational phase.